North Valley Magazine 0310

Musicfest Presents Modern Composer Mason Bates

February/march 2010 · $3.99

World Peace, and

Then Some

Pageants Have Come a Long Way

Men Over 40 Do They Have

Ticking Clocks, Too?

COoLER SEASON

Paul Newman A Life 2010 CES

Highlights E Minus 2

Equals C: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350C Corporate

America Trims the Fat– Literally

www.northvalleymagazine.com



HOT STUFF FOR A

As a non-smoker, I was shocked to be diagnosed with lung cancer. And I feared my body wouldn’t survive the therapy some doctors advised. My family insisted on a second opinion.

My answer was Mayo Clinic.

Jane Fausel on the personal care provided by caring physician specialists at Mayo Clinic in Sco�sdale/Phoenix, Ariz.

Cancer specialists at Mayo Clinic worked together to develop an effective chemotherapy program to meet Jane’s physical and emotional needs—especially since she had already received unsuccessful treatment by other doctors. The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center is one of only 40 National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, and is the only multi-site facility in the southwest. To schedule an appointment, visit mayoclinic.org or call (480) 301-1735.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO

MAKE HER DAY.

Whether you’re seeking the perfect Valentine’s Day gift or just a way to show you care at any time of year, you’ll find simple solutions at The Shops at Norterra. With Norterra’s unique retailers, restaurants and services offering plenty to please, you’ll make your sweetheart’s day and have time to spare.

Unique Gifts • • • • • • • •

Avon Bath & Body Works Bella Amie Boutique Fans & Fashionistas Kay Jewelers Runway Royalty Trendy TAG Boutique Victoria’s Secret

Romantic Dinners • • • •

Ah-So Sushi & Steak Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers P.F. Chang’s Sauce

Special Indulgences • • •

BevMo Massage Envy Norterra Salon & Spa

Plus, explore 25 other places to shop and dine.

Valentine’s Events “Be My Valentine” Farmers’ Market • Feb. 3, 2-6 p.m.

• Free Valentine cardmaking station, live music, flowers, chocolates, jewelry, fresh produce and more.

“Sweetheart Cruise Night” at the Norterra Car Show • Feb. 12, 6-9 p.m.

• Free hot chocolate and cookies, Valentine face painting, live music, prize drawings and cars on display.

Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Harkins Norterra 14 and many more places to shop and dine. I-17 and Happy Valley Road in North Phoenix.

Store Hours: MON-THURS 10AM-8PM, FRI-SAT 10AM-9PM, SUN 11AM - 6PM. Individual store hours may vary.

Follow us on Twitter @ShopsAtNorterra

NorterraShopping.com

still

Contents february - march 20 10

13

[ IN EVERY ISSUE ]

PUBLISHERS’ LETTER

14

contributors

16

CONnECT WITH US

52

20

Gotta Have It: Valentine’s Day Gifts We’ve got some great gift ideas for guys, girls—and both, and gifts especially for those enjoying the single life.

Cover Feature The USA and America pageants are more than skin deep. Former and current contestants, winners, and directors of the Arizona-based pageants give us a close look at the pageant realm and how these competitions help hundreds of girls each year to build confidence, enhance character, and forge their own unique paths in the world.

60

Gotta Have It: Home & Garden Check out some fun and functional must-have items for your home!

p.32 MUSICFEST PRESENTS -ODERN #OMPOSER -ASON "ATES

p.62

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 · $3.99

p.19

ÿ

WORLD PEACE, AND

THEN SOME

PAGEANTS HAVE COME A LONG WAY

p.28

-%. /6%2

HEY (AVE

HOT STUFF FOR A COOLER SEASON

PAUL NEWMAN A LIFE ÿ2010 CES HIGHLIGHTS ÿE MINUS 2 EQUALS C: 2010 MERCEDES-BENZ E350C ÿCORPORATE AMERICA TRIMS THE FAT– LITERALLY

$O 4 4ICKING #LOCKS

4OO

p.42 p.44 p.54 p.64

(

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

)

 30 LOCAL PROFILE: Conserving a Gift of Nature: The McDowell Sonoran Preserve  31 GIVING BACK: Community Stewards  32 MUSIC: Body of Work Electronic: Musicfest Presents Modern Composer Mason Bates  34 ART & CULTURE: Desert Sounds  35 AZ FUN FACTS: Arizona Charlie  36 DAY TRIPPERS & WEEKENDERS: Sedona Snuggling: Two Loverly Options!  38 HIGHLIGHT: Shop in Style—You Can Bank on It!  38 HIGHLIGHT: Spirit of Knowledge: New Direction for Christian Academy  38 HIGHLIGHT: Any Mobile, Anytime, for Anyone

On the cover: Miss Arizona USA 2010 Brittany Sheree Bell Photo: Justin Grant Hair/Makeup: The Perfect Face

8

[ CITY JOURNAL ]

“Among the very best“ Both John C. Lincoln Hospitals have been designated as Chest Pain Centers and Cardiac Arrest Centers.

That’s because of a commitment to excellent staff and advanced technology.

In fact, I rate John C. Lincoln as being among the very best cardiology centers I know.

JCL.com

Aye Thandar Win, MD Cardiology

Contents 48

42

[ STYLE ]

43 J EWELS: A Matter of Taste: Gifting the Right Gem

[ RELATIONSHIPS ]

28 D ATING: Men Over 40: Do They Have Ticking Clocks, Too?

70 R ELATIONSHIP: Ask the Dating Coach

43

[ ENTERTAINING ]

78

76 FLAVOR: A Taste of Canada 76 F LAVOR HOTSPOTS: Foreign Flavors Found Right Here in the Valley

77 DINING GUIDE [ HEALTH ]

48 GOLF: Putting 50 H EALTH & FITNESS: Putting Your

64

Kitchen on a Diet

64 W EIGHT LOSS: Corporate America Trims the Fat—Literally

28

[ BUZZ ]

62

42 BOOK REVIEW: Paul Newman: A Life 44 T ECHNOLOGY: 2010 CES Highlights

54 A UTO TRENDS: E Minus 2 Equals C: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350C

56 K NOW + TELL: ASU: The Creosote League and Other AZ Facts

59 T RAVEL JOURNAL: North to the

Future of Luxury One-Price Cruises!

62 H OT LIST: Hot Stuff for a Cooler Season

68 EVENT CALENDAR 78 E NTERTAINMENT: Tuning In to 2010

81 HOROSCOPES [ PAMPERED PETS ]

72 A SK THE VET: How Not to Sing the Lost Pet Blues

74 A DOPT-A-PET: Good Friends Who Need Great Homes!

76

(

[ people and places ]

 29 Joy Christian School’s Third Biannual Enrichment Auction  40 Fourth Annual FTWAV New Year’s Eve Celebration

 46 Junior League of Phoenix’s First Annual Valley Impact Luncheon  80 Sweat’s Annual Holiday Client Party Page

74 

10

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

)

Palm Pre does things iPhone can’t. The revolutionary ®

™

®

Pre lets you run multiple applications at the same time and can even save you $1200 over two years on the Now Network.

Palm Pre

iPhone 3G S

YES

NO

out of the box

Runs multiple applications at the same time

™

out of the box

The Now Network

YES

NO

TM

The Simply Everything Plan ®

Physical keyboard

Automatic contact syncing

Synced and separated calendar views

Texts and instant messages in one thread

Search contacts, apps, Google,™ Twitter™ and Wikipedia™ at once

YES

NO

YES

NO

S ave $1200 over two years.

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

YES

NO

$99.99/mo.

$149.99 /mo.

Available on new lines of activation with a two-year agreement. Services available nationwide.

Live TV

Removable battery

Unlimited voice, data and messaging

Service plan

(Other monthly charges apply. See below.**)

Unlimited voice, data and messaging

(Other monthly charges apply. )

Comparison based on AT&T Nation Unlimited plus required iPhone data plan and optional unlimited Text Messaging.

America’s most dependable 3G network. Bringing you the first and only wireless 4G network from a national carrier.

Contact your Sprint Preferred Retailer: Carefree Highway 3134 W Carefree Hwy #4 Tramanto Shopping Center, AZ 623-587-9350

Arrowhead Mall Next to Dillards Glendale , AZ 623-486-2552

$20 off accessories with new activation Additional restrictions may apply. See in store details.

**Sprint monthly charges exclude taxes, Sprint Surcharges (incl. USF charge of up to 12.9% [varies quarterly], Administrative Charge [up to $1.99/line/mo.], Regulatory Charge [$0.20/line/mo.] and state/local fees by area). Sprint Surcharges are not taxes or government-required charges and are subject to change. Details:sprint.com/taxesandfees. For details on AT&T other monthly charges, see wireless.att.com/cell-phoneservice/additionalcharges. May require up to a $36 activation fee/line, credit approval and deposit. Up to a $200 early termination fee/line applies. Savings Claim: Two-year savings based on publicly available information as of 7/13/09, excluding taxes, surcharges and fees. America’s Most Dependable 3G Network Claim: “Dependable” based on independent third-party drive tests for 3G data on connection success, session reliability and signal strength for the top 50 most populous markets from January ’08 to February ’09. Not all services available on 3G and coverage may default to a separate network when 3G is unavailable. Palm Pre: Requires activation on a Business Essentials message and data plan, Simply Everything or other Everything plan with data. Also requires a Palm account, activation and acceptance of Palm terms. GPS service requires acceptance of Google Mobile Terms of Service. Simply Everything Plan: Offer ends 9/7/09. No plan discounts apply. Premium content/downloads (games, ringers, songs, certain channels, etc.) are additional charge. Texts to third parties to participate in promotions or other may result in additional charges.

Sprint Music Premier includes access to select radio channels and $0.99 song downloads. Sprint TV Premier includes select channels. See sprint.com/tvguide for channel information. Content and channel lineup subject to change.

GPS Navigation includes Sprint Navigation for Sprint phones or TeleNav GPS Navigator for Nextel phones. GPS reliability varies by environment. International services are not included. Email includes use of Sprint Mobile Email, Microsoft Direct Push Technology via ActiveSync,® VersaMail, IBM Lotus Notes Traveler® or BlackBerry® Internet Service (BIS). Group Connect (21 max. participants) allows connection to other Nextel Direct Connect subscribers on the same push-to-talk network platform. Usage Limitation: Sprint may terminate service if (1) more than 800 minutes, (2) a majority of minutes or (3) a majority of kilobytes in a given month are used while roaming. Services are not available for use as a modem, in connection with server devices or host computer applications, other systems that drive continuous heavy traffic or data sessions, or as a substitute for frame relay connections. Other Terms: Coverage not available everywhere. The Nationwide Sprint Network reaches over 275 million people. The 3G Sprint Mobile Broadband Network (including roaming) reaches over 271 million people. Offers and service plan features not available in all markets/retail locations or for all phones/networks. Other restrictions apply. See store for details. ©2009 Sprint. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. iPhone is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.

HERE’S OUR IDEA OF ECONOMIC STIMULUS: We’ll Show You How to Make Your Insurance Dollars Work Harder

Volume 5 / Issue 2 PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Adam Toren adam@northvalleymagazine.com Matthew Toren matthew@northvalleymagazine.com EDITORIAL Managing Editor Crystal Huckabay crystal@northvalleymagazine.com Editorial Assistant Cassaundra Brooks cbrooks@northvalleymagazine.com Copy Editor Kate Karp kate@northvalleymagazine.com Food Editor Samantha Turner Editorial Interns Alana Stroud, Bill Raznik, Rachael Blume CONTRIBUTORS

AUTO - HOME - LIFE - BUSINESS

Dr. Julie Bartz, Scott Bohall, Diana Bocco, Gerald Calamia, Kevin Downey, Kaitlyn Grimmer, Alison Malone Eathorne, Louie Felix, Lea Friese-Haben, Laura Henry, CLIFFORD JONES, Jon Kenton, Carol La Valley, Kevin Madness, Ben Miles, Greg Rubenstein, Scott Sackett, Marshall Trimble, Michael van den Bos PHOTOGRAPHERS Director of Photography Eric Fairchild Photographers Michelle Brodsky, Mark Susan, Caroline GODDARD, Larry Rubino ADVERTISING sales@northvalleymagazine.com 602.828.0313 marketing director Eric Twohey Art Director/PRODUCTION PAUL BIELICKY CIRCULATION Distribution Manager Mark Lokeli

Jeremy Mueller Agency (480) 515-5223

Proud member of:

Email: jeremy@jeremymueller.com

www.jeremymueller.com SE Corner of Pinnacle Peak & Pima AJ’s Shopping Center

NORTH VALLEY MAGAZINE is published six times a year for distribution aimed at higher-income households in such areas as Anthem, Carefree, Cave Creek, Tramonto, North Scottsdale, Desert Ridge, DC Ranch, Grayhawk, Estancia, Desert Hills, Troon North, Desert Mountain, McDowell Mountain Ranch, and Arrowhead Ranch. You can also pick up North Valley Magazine at many businesses, including specialty shops, salons, spas, auto dealerships, libraries, children’s and women’s specialty shops, boutiques, restaurants, health clubs, hotels, medical offices, and many rack locations. Statements, opinions, and points of view expressed by the writers and advertisers are their own, and do not necessarily represent those of the publishers, editors or North Valley Magazine staff. Although North Valley Magazine has made every effort to authenticate all claims and guarantee offers by advertisers in the magazine, we cannot assume liability for any products or services advertised herein. No part of North Valley Magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising matter at any time.

Postmaster: Please return all undeliverable copies to North Valley Magazine, 711 E. Carefree Hwy. Suite 205, Phoenix, AZ 85085.

Yearly subscriptions available; six issues mailed directly to your mailbox for $19.95 per year (within the U.S.).

All rights reserved. ®2009 North Valley Magazine. Printed in the USA.

12

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

NVM + 2010

• publishers' letter

Winter’s Halcyon Days Waft In Games, Gifts, Getaways

or the outdoors. And if you plan to buy your woman jewelry, you won’t want to miss our Jewels column. Perhaps it’s your home that needs a little love and attention. Check out our Home & Garden must-haves for both fun and functional items that can liven up your abode!

Adam Toren Publisher

Welcome to a brand-new decade! 2010 has

already brought us some record rainfall.

What else might it have in store for us? The Winter Olympic Games, for starters, and you can enjoy a meal Canadian style while you watch by trying out this issue’s Flavor recipe. Valentine’s Day is coming up, and we highlight some gifts that go beyond bouquets of flowers and boxes of chocolate in Gotta Have It. Flip to Day Trippers & Weekenders for a couple of getaway ideas suited for couples with a taste for the indoors

Next issue is all about entertainment, but you can get a head start by turning to the Event Calendar or our Music, Entertainment, and Art & Culture columns and checking out a number of events, films, and music worth turning out for or tuning in to. And check out our book review of the biography of an acting and humanitarian legend.

We’ve got a number of local stories to pique your interest—a club making a difference in the lives of the physically disabled, an individual’s fight to preserve our desert landscape, a historic figure responsible for the country’s very first rodeo, a school undergoing a transformation. Our cover feature goes behind the scenes of two prominent local pageants that highlight the exceptional women who grace them and the vital skills and lessons learned through participating in these competitions. Hear

from past contestants and winners as well as current directors and titleholders about their impressions of these beauty pageants and why these competitions focus on much more than physical beauty.

Read on for these stories and for health tips, relationship advice, luxury automobile reviews, and more! Enjoy the remnants of winter and the onset of spring. We’ll see you in April!

Cheers!

Matthew Toren Publisher

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

13

NVM + 2010

• contributors

Technology

Auto Trends

Arizona Fun facts

Jon Kenton is principal consultant and owner of JRDR Marketing.

Originally from London, he has been living in Arizona with his family for the last eight years.

Jon has worked in computing and communications for over 20 years. If it connects to a TV, camera, network, or computer, Jon has probably used it. techno@northvalleymagazine.com

Greg Rubenstein is a freelance automotive journalist and deputy editor for iZoom.com, an auto enthusiast Web site. He has been writing about and racing cars for twenty-five years. autotrends@northvalleymagazine.com

He has been called a cowboy singer, a humorist, and a storyteller, and is Arizona’s official state historian, but Marshall Trimble’s most treasured title is teacher. He hopes people will realize the importance and fun involved in Arizona history and culture. marshall@northvalleymagazine.com

Music & Local Profile

Kevin Downey is a freelance writer based in Phoenix. He has been writing about the entertainment industry for eight years for such magazines as Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, and Media Life. A recent émigré from Long Beach, California, Kevin, his partner, and their dog Pogo have taken root in the North Valley, and they’re loving it. music@northvalleymagazine.com dating

Louie Felix is the CEO of Elite Personal Search, one of the largest personalized matchmaking companies in North America. His passion to combine his extensive business growth and management background with matchmaking and relationship coaching has assisted with the rapid expansion of Elite’s current national locations and a 20,000-plus active-client database. Louie has been a specialist in the matchmaking industry for almost a decade, and his organization has successfully matched both men and women with a fresh new male and female perspective to an industry that is 99 percent female oriented. relationships@northvalleymagazine.com Golf

Scott Sackett is a GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Scott teaches at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale. He is also the director of instruction at the Rim Club in Payson. He splits his time equally between the two.

To reach Scott, call him at (904) 838-2721 or e-mail him at scott@northvalleymagazine.com.

Visit his Web site at scottsackett.com.

Theater & Book Reviews

Ben Miles is a theater critic and educator with membership in both the American Theatre Critic’s Association and the Los Angeles Drama Critic’s Circle. Currently, Ben teaches at the Art Institute of California. His latest book is titled SPEECHES: An E-Guide to Effective Speechmaking. reviews@northvalleymagazine.com

14

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Adopt-a-pet

Michelle Brodsky is a Phoenix native whose passion for animals began at a very young age. Her talent for photography was not discovered until later on in her life. When not tending to her small zoo at home, she helps educate the minds of high school kids as an assistant teacher of photography. michelle@northvalleymagazine.com

Lea Friese-Haben is Arizona’s number-one dating expert.

She is happily married to Cpt. Greg Haben of Southwest Airlines and has three children.

Lea is a certified holistic practitioner and is a regular guest on channels 3, 10, 12, and 15. relationships@northvalleymagazine.com

Horoscopes

Flavor

Laura Henry has been studying astrology and metaphysics for over 25 years and is available for readings via phone or in person.

She uses astrology to assist people wishing to discover their strengths, challenges, and gifts in this lifetime, as well as to examine future trends for clients to maximize opportunities for personal growth. Readings are taped and completely confidential. laura@northvalleymagazine.com

Alison Malone Eathorne has lived in Australia and has traveled to such destinations as Fiji, England, Thailand, Spain, Nepal, the Cook Islands, Portugal, New Zealand, and France. When not at her laptop, she can be found strolling on the beach, carving up the slopes and poring over travel guides, cookbooks, and interior design magazines at local bookstores. flavor@northvalleymagazine.com

Relationships

Giving Back

Scott Bohall is the owner of Treasures Jewelers. The Treasures staff has won more design awards than any jeweler in Arizona. Scott is a past president and current board member of the Arizona Jewelers Association, travels the world to find gems, and speaks around the state on jewelry-related topics. jewels@northvalleymagazine.com

Freelance feature writer Carol La Valley missed being an Arizona native by six months. When she was growing up, the North Valley was where she and her family went to have picnics and ride dune buggies. She received the Outstanding Writing Award from the Arizona Newspapers Association and Arizona Press Women in 2007 and 2009. givingback@northvalleymagazine.com

Art & Culture

Health & Fitness

Kevin Madness began his writing career by forging excused absence forms in elementary school and later honed his skills as a journalist at Michigan State University. He then moved into a motor home and now travels far and wide writing and performing music. kevin@northvalleymagazine.com

Diana Bocco is a writer, published author, writing coach, and consultant with over ten years experience in the publishing field.

Diana teaches writing classes at CoffeeHouseforWriters.com and is the author of two upcoming books. diana@northvalleymagazine.com

Jewels

Photography

Eric Fairchild, a commercial photographer with fifteen years experience, owns and operates Phoenix-based FairchildPhotography, a complete digital and traditional film photography studio. Specialties include advertising, people, editorial, architecture, and automotive photography. photos@northvalleymagazine.com

For your valentine — there’s nothing that beats

the Gift Card from Par Exsalonce

Treat her to the fabulous

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Tempting and delicious, the antioxidant rich chocolate smoothes and refines her skin.

The ultimate in perfect pampering for her.

Need other ideas? How about our absolutely amazing

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a pedicure like no other with a finish of golden sheen Looking for that perfect smooth, straight hair? Our new

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Connect with North Valley Magazine To get in touch: North Valley Magazine

711 E. Carefree Highway, Suite 205, Phoenix, AZ 85085

Telephone: (602) 828-0313 • Fax: (623) 587-4818 Web Site: NorthValleyMagazine.com General E-mail: info@northvalleymagazine.com.

For submissions and suggestions:  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Letters may be e-mailed to

letters@northvalleymagazine.com. They may also be sent via mail or fax to Letters to the Editor at our address. Letters may be edited for space and clarity.  EVENTS CALENDAR: Submit press releases or event descriptions

in writing to Cassaundra Brooks at events@northvalleymagazine.com. Be sure to include event title, date, time, place, details, cost (if any), and contact number or Web site. The The deadline for April/May 2010 consideration is March 1.

 PRESS RELEASES: Submit press releases via e-mail to

Cassaundra at cbrooks@northvalleymagazine.com.

 STORY QUERIES: Submit one-page queries to us by mail,

attention Editorial Department. Accompany any queries with clips and a fifty-word biography.

 STORY SUGGESTIONS: We welcome editorial suggestions

from our readers. Please e-mail story ideas to cbrooks@northvalleymagazine.com, or mail or fax them to the attention of the editorial department.

To advertise your product or business:

Contact the sales department by phone at (602) 828-0313, ext. 1, or by e-mail at sales@northvalleymagazine.com.

To subscribe or obtain back issues:  SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe to North Valley Magazine,

or to make changes to an existing subscription, call (602) 828-0313 ext. 2, or visit our Web site.  BACK ISSUES: Back issues from up to two years are currently available for $8.95 each, including postage. You may order past issues on our Web site. Please allow five to seven days to process. It is North Valley Magazine’s policy not to mail, e-mail, or fax copies of articles that have appeared in the magazine.

Where to find us:

North Valley Magazine has racks in prime locations across our distribution area. For the rack location nearest you, e-mail info@northvalley magazine.com. We also mail magazines to various neighborhoods. If you would like to ensure that your place of business receives several copies, or would like to submit your place of business for a future rack location, please send a request via e-mail or regular mail to Mark Lokeli at mark@northvalleymagazine.com. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/NorthValley and join our fan page on Facebook!

16

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Distingished Apparel ;KB=:E & FHMA>KL & P>==BG@ I:KMR & <H<DM:BE & >O>GBG@ <HNMNK> & :<<>LLHKB>L

The Quintessential Bride ?HKF:E P>:K

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World Peace, Photo by Eric Fairchild

Pageants Have Come a Long Way

and then some

By Cassaundra Brooks

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

19

“It’s not a beauty pageant— it’s a scholarship program.” You might recognize these words from the Sandra Bullock chick-flick classic Miss Congeniality. Really, Miss USA, Miss America, and their married-woman and teen counterparts are, in the literal sense, both pageant and program—but they are much more.

We all hear the horror stories of pageant moms barking orders at little girls with equal parts heavy makeup and bad attitude. But when approached properly, these competitions have a lot to offer young women. Just ask Brenna Sakas, the 2006 Miss Arizona USA titleholder and top-fifteen contender in the national 2006 Miss USA competition. Or talk to Leeann Dearing, first-time pageant participant and second runner-up in the 2009 Mrs. Arizona America competition.

MISS USA

Miss Arizona USA, a branch of the Miss USA pageant, is part of the Donald J. Trump-NBC Universal joint venture, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO). The pageant, which began in 1952 as a bathing-beauty competition sponsored by Catalina Swimwear, has undergone a metamorphosis in the past half-century. According to Miss Arizona USA pageant director Britt Boyse, the MUO is committed to increasing HIV/AIDS awareness and increasing awareness of breast and ovarian cancers through partnering with organizations dedicated to the research and education of these diseases. “The women who champion these causes during their reign personify the combination of beauty and intelligence that defines the twenty-first century,” Boyse says.

The state titleholders serve their communities through service with various other charitable organizations. Brenna Sakas, Miss Arizona USA 2006, has worked with the Special Olympics, Kiwanis, Adopt-a-Pilot, Voices Take Flight, Trot for Tots, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Best Buddies, among others. But her volunteer work began when she 20

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Photo courtesy © Casting Crowns Productions X2



was just 8 years old, helping out in the children’s nursery and worship choir in her church as well as in several other capacities. At 16, she joined her family and the Catholic Coalition of Phoenix in the building of a home for Habitat for Humanity.

This would begin a deeper relationship with the organization, starting with when she became the Outreach Coordinator for ASU’s Habitat for Humanity Student Chapter and then began her active four-year participation with its Central Arizona public relations/marketing committee after winning Miss Arizona USA. Sakas had dabbled in competing since the age of 11. After doing the local pageant circuit for a few years, she tried her luck at the age of 19 competing in local Miss America pageants, placing in Miss Arizona America’s top ten in 2004. In 2006, she entered the Miss Arizona USA pageant. A short while later, the Arizona native stood on the stage of downtown Phoenix’s historic Orpheum Theatre in her newly acquired evening gown, wearing a glittering crown and satin sash and clutching a floral bouquet.

Winning, however, took dedicated preparation: working out with a trainer several days a week and intensive mock interviews, for starters. Boyse, who competed herself in 1995, says that the preparation for these pageants helps participants cultivate skills and confidence. She says that this gave her “a definite edge” in her professional career in the health care industry. A key component to preparation from the side of the pageant, Boyse says, is to help the women identify, develop, and highlight their best attributes and to embrace their individuality with newfound confidence.

Sakas considers herself such a beneficiary. “Like most girls, I was a very awkward teenager,” she says.

Competing in the Miss Arizona pageants helped her grow into a more secure woman. Though no stranger to performing in front of people, she built up her confidence and improved her speaking and presentation

 Miss Arizona USA 2010 Brittany Sheree Bell [ right ] was crowned Miss Arizona USA 2010 and Miss Congeniality at the Ikea Theater at the Mesa Center for the Arts last November, and will compete for the title of Miss USA in April of this year.

The 22-year-old is a graduate of ASU with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. For the past three years, she was a dancer for the Phoenix Suns. As the reigning Miss Arizona USA, she is using her title to draw attention to two of her favorite charities: Phoenix Youth at Risk and Face in the Mirror. She is using networking contacts she made as a university student and Suns dancer to hone opportunities for partnerships, sponsorships, and volunteering. As for her experience with the pageant, Bell says, “The Miss USA pageant, in my opinion, is about your personality, your success, the way you carry yourself, your poise, your ethics, and pretty much everything about you being an allaround driven, classy, and confident young woman.”

 Miss Arizona USAs Brenna Sakas (2006), Kimberly Joiner (2008), Brittany Bell (2010), Courtney Barnas (2007), and Alicia-Monique Blanco (2009)

Cover Feature

world peace, & then

Photo courtesy © Casting Crowns Productions

some

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

21

ï&#x201A;« Cover Feature

world peace, & then

Brenna Sakas, Miss Arizona USA 2006

22

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Photo by Eric Fairchild

some

Miss Universe, LP, LLLP

[ PAGEANTS ]

 Miss Arizona USA There are three competitive components, each judged using the following criteria: Swimsuit: physical fitness, stage presence, and overall impression Evening gown: grace, poise, style, stage presence, confidence, and overall impression Interview: communication skills and personality (not opinions or personal beliefs) Prizes: Contestants who achieve at least runner-up status may receive prizes that include substantial scholarships, gift certificates, and discounts, while winners also enjoy an engraved crystal trophy, custom crown and sash, and a Miss Arizona USA official banner.

 Mrs. Arizona America There are three competitive components, as follows: 1 Presentation and Community Achievement (Interview) – 50 percent of the total score 2 Presence and Poise (Evening Wear) – 25 percent of the total score Lifestyle and Fitness (Swimsuit) – 25 percent of the total score 3 Prizes: The Miss Arizona pageant is generous in scholarships, while the Mrs. Arizona pageant includes sizable prize packages filled with goodies from numerous pageant sponsors along with certain official memorabilia.

skills. Simply competing, she says, teaches dedication, perseverance, and time management. And the best part is that these benefits are available to all participants, win or lose. In fact, Boyse says, losing with class is just as important a lesson as winning with humility.

Pageants aren’t all glamour, of course. On the national level in particular, you enjoy precious few hours of sleep, endure twelve-hour TV rehearsals, fight homesickness, and sometimes battle illnesses.

Competing at a national level in the company of fifty other gorgeous, driven women is, as Sakas puts it, “nerve-racking, intimidating, and dramatic,” especially when not every girl got the memo on sportsmanlike conduct.

“I’m not going to lie and say everyone was super nice and helpful,” Sakas says. “There was a handful of girls who made ‘world peace’ a little difficult for the rest of us.”

But Sakas was serious about wanting the opportunity, the experience, and the job of being Miss Arizona USA. And being titleholder is worth the hard work.

Sakas took a leave of absence from her undergraduate studies at ASU to concentrate on making public appearances, fund-raising, and preparing for Miss USA. Titleholders volunteer with nonprofits, act as spokespeople, serve as role models to their community, represent pageant sponsors and, for state winners, represent Arizona in the Miss USA competition.

Sakas represented Arizona in Miss USA 2006 all the way through the semifinals. It was the experience, however, and not the missed crown that she remembers. In fact, Sakas not only recommends the pageant to other women but also has taken on coaching and mentoring participants herself through her business, Crowning Concepts Pageant Consulting.

She takes the tips and tricks she learned in her years on the pageant circuit, couples them with her lifelong passion for education and experience in leadership, and helps other ladies pursue their pageant dreams.

In the past year, she has had clients place in second, third, and fourth runner-up positions.

The one possible drawback to competing is cost.

Each contestant pays an entry fee of $1,100, which covers participation, coaching/informational workshops, two nights’ hotel accommodation, competition sash, opening number dress, goodies from sponsors, and all transportation and meals during pageant weekend. That’s where sponsorships come into play.

Contestants are encouraged to solicit sponsorships, a process that is great practice for the interview portion of the competition, according to Britt Boyse.

Sakas agrees. “Asking for donated services for hair, nails, spray tans, wardrobe alterations, etc., also helps,” she says. “And don’t spend thousands of dollars on an evening gown! I won Miss Arizona USA in a gown I purchased on eBay for $250.” And planning ahead helps, too. “Don’t wait until the last minute to

buy your wardrobe, have it altered, and break in your shoes,” Sakas says.

But a dazzling evening gown, flattering swimsuit, and carefully crafted interview answer are not enough to win a crown. These women are beautiful and articulate, but it’s the character that shines through the glitz and eloquence that sets the contestants apart from one another. Brenna Sakas turns heads, but it’s not her physical beauty that lights up every room she enters. It’s her warm smile and infectious personality.

It’s her enviable work ethic and moral center. She is a woman who perseveres and strives daily to live a moral life—one, she adds, in accordance with God’s word.

Sakas cites her faith in Jesus Christ, whom she credits as her inspiration. She doesn’t crave the high levels of fame (no crazed paparazzi, thank you!) to which some Hollywood hopefuls aspire. Sakas, who is signed with FORD/Robert Black Agency, would like to make a living acting and modeling and coaching; she has already achieved decent success modeling for companies like Dillard’s, Coach, Calvin Klein, and Barrett-Jackson and acting in national commercials for Go Daddy Genie, Blue Diamond Almonds, and Dickenson’s Witch Hazel. But she also considers returning to the world of academia for a master’s degree in family therapy so that she might counsel families in distress. In the meantime, you’ll find the well-rounded beauty queen showing off her silly side performing with professional short-form improv troupe Chaos Comedy and doing yoga, running, reading, cooking, baking, bargain shopping, and studying Scripture.

MRS. AMERICA

The Miss America pageant dates back to 1921, when East Coast newspapers sought a means to increase their circulation. Winners of individual newspaper photographic popularity contests were awarded an all-expense-paid trip to the second annual Fall Frolic festival in Atlantic City, where they were placed in an “Inter-City Beauty Contest” and judged in large part by appearance, personality, conversation with judges, and interaction with the crowds.

The pageant has come a long way from its beginnings. It was first telecast in 1954, and in 1989, the Miss America Organization (MAO) founded its familiar platform concept. No, “world peace” is not a platform—though certainly there is hope that it can be achieved through the efforts made on behalf of various platforms like homelessness, character education, domestic violence, and so forth. The current Miss Arizona America, for instance, focuses on enriching lives through higher education. According to the official Web site, it is also the leading provider of scholarships for young women in the world.

The organization has also spawned the first and largest married-woman pageant to date: Mrs. America, established in 1977. According to its official Web site, the competition is “devoted to emphasizing that FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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ï&#x201A;« Cover Feature

world peace, & then

Mrs. Leeann Dearing

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Photo by Logan Vail

some

America’s 70 million married women are extraordinarily beautiful, poised, articulate, and versatile.” Contestants for this marriedwoman counterpart range in age from the twenties to the fifties, and compete in three areas: personal interview, (personality and communication skills), swimsuit (fitness and health), and evening gown (poise and grace). Unlike Miss America contestants, participants do not compete in a talent portion.

Leeann Dearing, second runner-up to Mrs. Arizona America 2009 (who was Tucson’s Elisa Rister), might have been even more formidable a competitor if there were a judging for talent. The beautiful, witty blonde is a trained pianist who composes her own music.

She is also a talented vocalist, skilled actor, and improvisational performer. Her platform—arts education—is one she advocates strongly. “Artists are not expendable,” she says.

And landing in third place was a thrill for the first-time competitor. She didn’t expect to capture the crown in her pageant debut. It gave her a taste of the pageant world, and her overall experience with the competition has prompted her to enter this realm once again.

But what was it that made the newly married former East Coaster enter the pageant in the first place? True, it was at the suggestion of her friend and coach, Brenna Sakas, but the “America system” itself also drew her in. It wasn’t just about beauty, she says. The pageant stresses charity work and family, among other key values. Through MAO, she was afforded the opportunity to participate in the Child Help USA fashion show benefit and the Leukemia Night at Devil’s Martini. But her interest in charity work had already deepened several years earlier in central Thailand, where she spent time working in schools, farms, and church communities. One of her most vivid memories is a visit to a leprosy recovery clinic, where, through a translator, she was able to have what she describes as “beautiful conversations with the patients.”

Dearing says, “It sounds overly simplistic, but to observe the discrepancy in the quality of life in America as opposed to rural Thailand was awakening. This experience fostered a deeper gratefulness within me for my country and the opportunities provided here.”

One such opportunity was trying her luck with Mrs. Arizona America. Like Sakas, she was accustomed to the stage, and her strong background in theater and performance perhaps bolstered her nerves. However, there were many skills that did not cross over, and the preparation and competition gave her the chance to improve her public speaking and improvisation skills as well as fitness, poise, and confidence—key assets in the acting world. The hefty entry fee (similar to that of Miss Arizona USA and also often funded through sponsorships) was well worth her experience. Her mentor, former Mrs. Arizona Rosalie Michaels, gave her a piece of advice that really stuck: “Don’t worry about the crown. See the journey.”

That journey began with preparation, to which coach Brenna Sakas was more than accustomed. Training included perfecting “the walk” and running through a series of tough mock interviews. “I had kind of a duck walk,” says Dearing. “[Brenna] was able to point out exactly what I was doing and how to fix it.” And thanks to hours of prep work, she felt as though she nailed her interview.

The competition did bring at least one nerve-racking event for which nothing can really prepare a contestant: the swimsuit round.

There are not many situations which require strutting across a stage in front of a large audience in a swimsuit and high heels. Going through it, however, helps secure a level of confidence few other situations could provide. “If you can smile and laugh in a swim-

suit and heels,” Dearing says, “you can nail any presentation or any audition!”

And she has. You may recognize her, in fact, from this year’s Go Daddy Super Bowl commercials, which starred race car driver Danica Patrick. She earned a small role in the Lifetime project Maneater with Sarah Chalke (Scrubs) and Judy Greer (27 Dresses, The Village), which premiered nationally last year. She is set to shoot the short film Domestic Dispute this spring and can soon be seen co-starring in Personalized Medicine. You can also catch Dearing at Arizona Virtual Studios on Saturday nights portraying a colorful assortment of zany characters for improv troupe Chaos Comedy— which is directed by her husband Matthew—or playing the piano at Highlands Church in Scottsdale.

Dearing embodies the characteristics sought out by the Mrs. America Organization. She possesses class in spades and is already a personal role model for scores of aspiring actors across the Valley who have studied their craft under her instruction and mentoring.

Three years ago, she and her husband started up the Dearing Acting Studio, which she describes as one of the greatest joys of her life.

“I don’t know if [my students] realize how much they give me,” she says. “It recharges me.”

She says it’s difficult not to get sucked into the self-dominating vortex of the entertainment industry, and while she has begun to take on larger-scale projects with some bigger industry names, she is happy here in the Grand Canyon State. “I’m in no rush to LA or New York,” she says. “I believe in Arizona. I believe in our market.”

Dearing is driven by her faith and her desire to live up to the work ethic, selflessness, and compassion of her own real-life inspirations like her parents and her husband. She is just the sort of woman a Mrs. America contestant should be.

“My goals are to keep God at the center, to love and honor my husband Matt, and to create art that is interesting, honest, and real,” she says. And, on a smaller scale, to eventually obtain the coveted crown—and the job that goes along with it.

Despite occasional poor press as well as spoofs courtesy the entertainment industry, major pageants have produced more than a string of beauty queens. That these women are beautiful is undeniable, but they are, in general, also intelligent, driven, compassionate human beings with good sense and important messages to convey to the public. They undergo the scrutiny of audiences that sometimes number in the millions and perform beautifully under immense pressure. And forget plastic smiles and dull personalities—Sakas and Dearing are proof to the contrary. Their passion for helping others pursue their own dreams is not only evident through their eloquent speeches but also through their selfless acts, which prove time and again that these special ladies are the genuine article: women, in their most admirable form.

The Miss Arizona USA 2010 competition was held in November. The Mrs. Arizona America competition will be held on May 21–22 at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. For more information on these organizations, visit missarizonausa.com and mrsarizonaamerica.com. For more information on the Miss Universe Organization, visit missuniverse. org. For more information on the Miss America Organization, visit missamerica.org. To learn more about Brenna Sakas’s coaching and current projects, visit brennasakas.com. To learn more about Leeann Dearing’s current projects, visit leeanndearing.com or dearingstudio.com.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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NVM + 2010

Matchmaking Experts

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

I have been in the matchmaking industry for almost ten years, and I have personally interviewed thousands of single men looking to meet the love of their life. Many of the men whom I meet with are over the age of 40 and heterosexual but have never been married, which is the reason I decided to write this article.

Why are so many men over the age of 40 still single? Will a 40-plus male ever be able to take a leap of faith and finally marry the woman of his dreams, or does she slip through his fingers time and time again because she never completely fulfills the image he has in his head of whom he sees himself with in the long term? Has being single for over 40 years caused some men to become commitment-phobes? Do men really want to get married?

In my experience, the answer to that last question for the majority of men is an absolute yes! Do men readily admit to others and themselves that they want the perfect wife and family, or even a committed relationship? Don’t bet on it! There’s a certain level of fear that seems to be at the root of

the most common reason why many men over the age of 40 have never been married.

Is it fear of commitment, or fear of failure?

Fear of making a mistake and choosing the wrong woman, or fear that if she is the right woman, she may eventually not meet or exceed his expectations later in life?

All of the above, actually. In my opinion, most women are more willing to make life sacrifices and risk everything for the man of their dreams. Men are definitely a bit slower with the self-realization process when it comes to taking such risks. Basically, what it comes down to is nature versus nurture.

As humans, most of us are born with the instinctive need to reproduce. Unfortunately, the nurture side of this equation is what interferes with nature. Each of our individual upbringings determines how we think and what we feel, and also influences the decisions we make as we develop from adolescence into adulthood. This not only includes the influences of the friends and family that surround us but also our life experiences. The most common influences, or reasons why men fear marriage or commitment, generally stem from their parents’ relationship. Men are either afraid that they will end up in an unhappy marriage for the rest of their lives, or they fear that their marriage will eventually end in divorce. Regardless of the reason, fear’s driving, most of the time.

Women in particular should note that not every man craves the married or family life, but I believe that eventually, most men will wake up and realize that making a lifelong commitment to the woman of their dreams is worth the risk that comes along with making that decision. They will stand proud and bow down on one knee and profess their undying love to their significant other and publicly pledge their willingness to enter into a lifelong partnership, ’til death do they part. One can dream, right? Let’s hope men come to these realizations before their girlfriends become tired of waiting.

Tick-tock, tick-tock, gentlemen—your clock is ticking and your princess awaits, but for how long?

NVM + 2010

• people & places •

Photography by David and Jolene Cummins of Cummins Photography

Joy Christian School’s Third Biannual Enrichment Auction >> Arrowhead Country Club, 19888 N. 73rd Ave., Glendale

^

Called a “glitzy denim and diamonds event,” this fund-raiser for the nonprofit Joy Christian School included dining, musical entertainment, and live and silent auctions.

Among the items donated for the auction were dream vacations, a new Jeep courtesy Moore Chrysler Jeep, sports tickets and memorabilia, and themed baskets. The event raised $58,292.81 for the school. joyschool.org

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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c i i y i

Journal

local profile / GIVING BACK / MUSIC / ART & CULTURE / AZ FUN FACTS / CHARITY SPOTLIGHT / DAY TRIPPERS & WEEKENDERS / HIGHLIGHTS

local profile

Conserving a Gift of Nature The McDowell Sonoran Preserve

“We need it spiritually,” she says. “It’s where you can go hike 20 minutes in and completely 30

NORTH VALLEY FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Photo by Stephen Parsons

It’s easy to overlook a piece of land, no matter how expansive, beautiful, and unique. Case in point: the breathtaking McDowel l Sonoran Preser ve, which includes the McDowell Mountains that hug the northeast corner of the Valley. This is land—dirt, bushes, stones—but it’s much more: It’s a treasure that needs to be saved.

It’s also easy to overlook people like Carla, which is her full legal name. Carla is a commissioner on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission who has tirelessly worked for decades to preserve vast stretches of the North Valley that have lured millions of visitors and residents to the area for generations. She maintains that protecting the environment is unto itself a noble cause.

“At the core, economically, keeping this beautiful open space is what draws visitors here,” says Carla, 54, who’s lived in Scottsdale since she was a child. “If you develop all of it, you’ve killed the golden goose.

We’re protecting one of Scottsdale’s key industries.”

There’s another reason that Carla’s made protecting this land a lifelong effort.

Courtesy City of Scottsdale

By Kevin Downey

escape urban pressures. And this is our children’s and grandchildren’s classroom.”

Carla is emphatic in saying that the Preserve is intended for all Arizonans and other Americans to enjoy, as she did as a child.

“I grew up here in South Scottsdale, with a scientist mom,” she says. “We weren’t allowed to have a TV. We were

always told, ‘Go outside.’ So, for us, our enjoyment was family picnics in the northern desert or taking daylong hiking trips. It was our playground, and it was our classroom.”

The Preserve encompasses more than 16,000 acres, roughly north of Via Linda and east of Thompson Peak Parkway. It includes The Gateway: a visitor center, trailhead entrance, and

educational path that opened in May 2009.

The vision for the land encompasses another 19,000 acres. In 1995, voters approved a sales tax increase to purchase the land. In 1998, voters approved funding for the expansion. Additional funding was approved in 2004.

And Carla was there each step of the way. In 1992, she began volunteering for McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, formerly the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust. From 1998 until 2007, she worked for MSC. “To make something big happen, it’s like rolling a boulder up the hill,” says Ruthie Carll, executive director of MSC. “It just doesn’t happen easily. The thing about Carla that is so amazing is that she kept pushing, even when it seemed the boulder was too big.”

Carla’s efforts will be recognized with a street being named in her honor: Carla Way. The city council was scheduled to vote on final approval of the street name on January 12.

“Carla is a great example of the impact that one individual can have on a community,” says Scottsdale’s mayor, W. J. “Jim” Lane. “She was an early advocate for preservation, and her continued passion for the cause has spurred other citizens to get involved.”

Giving Back

Community Stewards

By Carol La Valley • Photos courtesy Kiwanis

A riddle: They flip golden, fluffy pancakes Dress up flea market aisles Lend wheelchairs to the elderly And send teens to college with anticipation and smiles If you guessed the busy Kiwanis of Carefree (and Cave Creek) members who are meeting the needs of people young and old in their community, you would be correct. Kiwanis’s pancake breakfasts are a signature event of the club that chartered in 1973. However, their accomplishments are not financed by pancakes alone.

At least 500 people fill the amphitheater in the heart of Carefree twice a year for breakfast, served up by Kiwanis volunteers.

As fun (and tasty) as that may be, the club’s worthy endeavors have been fueled for the past 15 years by giant f lea-market sales that take place about every other month.

Medical-assistance items that are donated may find their way to the loan closet, and

Who are they?

a person in need can leave a message at (480) 488-8400 and make arrangements to borrow a walker, wheelchair, or other aid.

The next flea market will be held March 27 at the Kiwanis Warehouse, 7177 E. Ed Everett Way. The club received $2.5 million in the form of a charitable trust this past year.

The trust and normal fund-raising efforts enabled Kiwanis club to give the community $800,000, which includes donations to the Desert Foothills Food Bank, YMCA,

Foothills Community Foundation, and Caring Corps, an organization that provides transportation for the homebound.

Because of Kiwanians’ $100,000 scholarship commitment, area students are able to further their education.

“We must be good stewards of that money,” says Susan Vanic, 2009–10 club president.

Children remain priority one for Kiwanis International. The science fair, in cooperation with the Cave Creek Unified School District, is one way in which the local club makes that goal a reality. At four years old, the event is in its infancy, yet 3,325 students from 11 schools submitted 2,079 projects this past year. Kindergarten through high school students and their parents can find information about the event on their Web site.

The AKTION Club is one of three major programs that Kiwanians of Carefree have

embraced this year. The volunteers will be working with professionals to fund, plan, and host social events for developmentally challenged young adults. Kiwanians are again active in the Junior Achievement program in partnership with local schools and the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce. Vanic budgeted money for an unspecified project, and members came forward with a third idea. They are in the early stages of identifying ways to make a difference in the lives of autistic children.

The president is delighted. “It just goes to show what kind of members we have in the club,” she says.

The 254-member–strong club is presently the sixth largest in the world. Members meet each Wednesday at noon at Harold’s Corral in Carefree for lunch and hear an interesting speaker. When the Arizona weather is fine and “in season,” they number over 100. Active hands are always needed to continue traditional events and enthusiastically produce new ones.

“We have a great group of volunteers,” says past president David Bell. “Many have run big companies and now, here they are, working as laborers and having fun doing it.”

For information on volunteering and programs, visit kiwaniscarefree.org FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 NORTH VALLEY

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NORTH VALLEY FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

If Mozart were alive today, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d undoubtedly be a DJ mixing tunes for a gyrating crowd in Ibiza. If Beethoven were alive, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be posting new music on Facebook.

These scenarios play out for fun in the minds of classical music fans. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a serious question underlying this fun: Where are todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great classical music composers?

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an answer: One of them is a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, and his white-hot career has been taking off since early this decade, with some performances in Arizona. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a DJ who mixes electronica and also performs with world-class orchestras, often on digital drums or a laptop.

His name is Mason Bates, and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in the North Valley in late February for four performances as part of the monthlong Arizona Musicfest. His music is ethereal, gorgeous, lush, and intoxicating. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started on the piano, but I always knew I wanted to compose,â&#x20AC;? says Bates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I found a way to combine both in a crazy concerto I wrote in 1998 for synthesizer, which I performed with the Phoenix Symphony in 2001 with [Musicfest artistic director] Robert Moody.â&#x20AC;?

Bates, a 32-year-old Virginia native with a shaggy early-Beatles haircut, is also a straightforward classical music composer. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a composer-in-residence at the California Symphony and, beginning next fall, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be composer-in-residence with the Chicago Symphony. Since 2000, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been composer-in-residence at New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prestigious Young Concert Artists. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a composer who performs.

When he does, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largely to get a firsthand feel for how electronic music fits in with classical instruments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The world of electronics is unmapped territory in the concert world,â&#x20AC;? says Bates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m in the percussion section with the laptop, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for technical reasonsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;I like to take cues from the conductor. But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a musical decisionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;electronics need to operate within the orchestral setting in a way that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overwhelm the orchestra.â&#x20AC;?

Music

Body of Work Electronic Musicfest Presents Modern Composer Mason Bates

Photo courtesy artist

By Kevin Downey

Bates will perform his pieces, including “Rusty Air in Carolina” commissioned in 2006 by the Winston-Salem Symphony, at this season’s Arizona Musicfest.

Arizona Musicfest performances run Feb. 1–March 7 in venues throughout the North Valley. Mason Bates will perform with the Arizona Musicfest All-Star Orchestra conducted by Robert Moody: A World Class Opening on Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Opera Grand and Glorious on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.; Orchestra Fireworks on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.; and Symphony Fantastique on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. All performances are at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, 25150 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale. Box office: (480) 488-0806.

Visit masonicelectronica.com to sample Mason Bates’s music.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 NORTH VALLEY

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Art & Culture

Desert Sounds

By Kevin Madness

with a new audience.

“As long as I’m connecting with individuals in the crowd through my playing, I’ll be inspired, and the music will be great!” he says. “The venue makes a big difference; my music, being the music of smoky bars, speakeasies, and brothels, will be a delightful contrast to the springtime Arizona weather.”

In terms of atmosphere, playing the garden stage will be an exciting change of pace.

Out here, tall cacti stand in stately fashion,

looming over beautiful desert flowers and angular agaves. Away from the city lights, the sky is clear and panoramic. The nature here seems at once uninterrupted and spectacularly assembled.

Within the Desert Botanical Garden, there is a stage—not the large steel assembly typically seen at concerts but a natural platform subtly located behind a butte lined in saguaros. It is here that there will be music.

As part of the Music in the Garden and Jazz in the Garden concert series, the native flora will sway with the sounds of a different performer each week. With wineglasses in their hands and the desert soil beneath their feet, audiences will bear witness to the best American, Latin, Irish, and jazz musicians in Arizona and beyond.

Music is meant to be experienced, not simply heard. Here, it can be experienced in the perfect setting, away from the stresses of the city, amongst the majesty of nature.

Throughout February, the DBG will continue its winter concert series with Sunday afternoon concerts aimed at entertaining the entire family. In the spring, they will host the Friday evening series, Jazz in the Garden, a more sophisticated 21-and-up weekly event that offers jazz, blues, and wine before a stunning sunset. Both events will feature catering from the café and a chef-attended table making special dishes.

“I think we offer something that no 34

NORTH VALLEY FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

one else does in the Valley,” says Katharine Spratt, entertainment coordinator for DBG. “We have an amazing lineup of talented musicians that are as diverse as the people who live in the Valley.”

Spratt, a music lover, grew up attending concerts at the DBG and now helps select the performers for the concert series.

Even with adept performers and a fantastic venue, Spratt says it’s something else that makes the concerts special. “The people who come are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” she says. “It makes for a wonderful atmosphere.”

It’s important to consider that, beyond entertainment, the concerts are a means of support. Ticket sales raise funds for DBG, the area’s singular preserve for rare and endangered desert plants.

“It’s a nice symbiotic relationship between the garden and the community,” Spratt says. “It’s a way to enjoy music and also to get desert wildlife preserved.”

For the players, it’s a chance to showcase their music in front of a large audience (the venue seats 450) and also to perform within an exotic and uniquely local ambience.

It will be Solomon Douglas’s first visit to the garden. He will be leading his quartet through 1950s jazz standards in the garden on March 13. For Douglas, a pianist and bandleader out of Seattle who tours constantly, the performance will be an opportunity to make a strong impression

COST: Members: $14/Non-Members: $20 **Must be 21 years or older to attend concert.

Ticket price includes Garden admission.

TICKETS: Order tickets online at dbg.org, by phone at (480) 481-8188, or through the Admissions Box Office. For groups of ten or more, call (480) 481-8104 to learn about discounted group tickets.

Music in the Garden Sunday afternoons: noon–2 p.m.

Feb 7 Brazen Heads—Irish Rock Feb 21 Cascabel—Latin/rock/pop Jazz in the Garden Friday evenings: 7–9 p.m.

March 5 Nina Curri and the King Snakes— blues/jazz/roots March 12 Solomon Douglas Quartet—jazz/ blues/big band March 19 Big Pete Pearson—blues/boogie/soul April 2 Hot Club of Phoenix—acoustic/swing/jazz April 9 Pete Pancrazi—jazz guitar/bossa nova April 16 Fuerza Caribe—Latin/jazz/salsa/mambo April 30 Huneybrown—jazz/R&B/blues May 7 Armand Boatman’s Be-Bop Revolution—jazz May 14 The Del Rayz, featuring members of Sistah Blue—blues/boogie/jazz May 21 Cinco de Moio—Latin/jazz/lounge May 28 Dennis Rowland—jazz/R&B/soul Friday evenings: 7:30–9:30 p.m.

June 4 Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns—R&B/soul/funk June 11 The Bad Cactus Brass Band— jazz/funk/blues June 18 The Jump Back Brothers— roots/blues/rockabilly June 25 Big Nick and the Gila Monsters— Chicago blues For more information and directions, call (480) 941-1225 or visit dbg.org.

AZ Fun Facts

Arizona Charlie B y M a r s h a l l T r i mb l e , O f f i c i a l A r i z o n a S t a t e H i s t o r i a n Photos courtesy Jean Beach King

Arizona is home today to a number of “superstars,” but the first was a rodeo cowboy and Wild West performer named “Arizona Charlie” Meadows.

Arizona Charlie’s given name was Abraham Henson Meadows, but that would soon change. He was born on a snowy day on a ranch near Visalia, California, in 1860, just before the outbreak of the Civil War. His father, John, was a Confederate sympathizer who, with the election of Mr. Lincoln, changed the lad’s name to Charles. In 1877, the family settled on a ranch at Diamond Valley, north of Payson, where the community of Whispering Pines is today.

In July 1882, Charlie left the Meadows ranch and rode to Pine Creek to guide an army detachment through the pass at the head of the East Verde River onto the Mogollon Rim. While he was there, a war party of Apache swept through the Rim Country and attacked the Meadows ranch.

His father, John, was killed, and two of his brothers were wounded in the ambush.

John Meadows would be the first person to be buried in the Payson Pioneer Cemetery.

A short time later, his brother Harry William Meadows died from his wounds.

Charlie was left in charge to care for the family ranch. In 1884, he organized

America’s first rodeo, along with John C. Chilson. On a horse named Snowstorm, Charlie won nearly every event, beating the famous Tom Horn in the roping contest.

He went on the rodeo circuit with Snowstorm and set new records in steer tying at Prescott. He won again in Phoenix. Show business was in his blood, and Charlie made up his mind to become a performer in a Wild West show. By 1892, he was riding in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

Two years earlier, on August 16, 1890, Charlie married off his young sister, Maggie, along with her friend, by staging a cow gathering and a double wedding at what was called the August Doins. The two couples were welcome to all the cattle on the Meadows ranch they could rope and brand by sundown. Unbridled from the responsibilities of running the ranch, Charlie left Payson to pursue his dream.

Arizona Charlie had an illustrious career performing all over the world with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show before going off to form a show of his own. During the Alaska Gold Rush of 1898, he headed for the Klondike, where he struck it rich but then lost his gold mine in a poker game. He opened the Palace Grand Theater in Dawson, in Yukon Territory, Canada, which is

still in operation. In 1988, a relative, Ernest Becker, opened an $18 million resort and casino in Las Vegas called Arizona Charlie’s. The famous photo of him in his Wild West outfit graces the front of the building.

When his show biz days ended, Charlie retired to the town of Yuma, where his long, dark hair turned to silver. He wasn’t ready to go on to his reward yet, and he believed the dry, healthy climate in Yuma would extend his life.

Back before the Californians started calling us “Zonies,” old-time Arizonans referred to themselves Hassayampers, after the storied Hassayampa River. Legend claimed that once you drink its water, you can never tell the truth again. “It’ll be a snowy day in Yuma,” Charlie would say, “when they bury this old Hassayamper.”

Arizona Charlie died on December 19, 1932, and on that day it snowed an inch and a half in downtown Yuma. He was born and died in places where it seldom if ever snows.

Today, Arizona Charlie Meadows is Payson’s most famous and colorful citizen.

He bears the title of Father of the Payson Rodeo for having organized and competed in America’s first one, organized in 1884.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 NORTH VALLEY

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Holiday Lighting Shine Specialists Inc. For great looking, holiday displays call the Shine Specialists today. Our services include Christmas light installation and removal.

Call today for a free estimate.

(480) 329-4420

c i i y i

Nor th Valley Service Directory

Journal

Day Trippers & Weekenders

Sedona Snuggling Two Loverly Options!

Home Decor and Accessories Isabelle's Fine Talavera, LLC Direct importers of authentic talavera from Puebla, Mexico. Whether decorating or renovating your home, office or outdoor space, we offer the highest quality of certified talavera for all your needs. www.isabellesfinetalavera.com

By Cassaundra Brooks

Landscaping Accent Landscaping L.L.C. Looking to turn your vision into reality? Our services include design and installation for all your landscaping needs. Licensed, Bonded and Insured. Call today for free estimate.

(480) 694-9180 Cabinets 101Cabinets & Interiors has been a trusted provider of kitchen, bath, and interior design since 2001, creating a customized look to reflect your lifestyle needs. Superior craftsmanship and Distinctive Design can still be affordable.

(602) 971-1715 www.101cabinets.com Custom Furniture Homeland Furniture is a family owned and operated business that is celebrating its one-year anniversary.

We offer a focus on all furniture for your home, especially unique, local-made custom furniture.

(623) 556-5265 www.homelandfurniture.com Pool Builder Desert Edge Pools and Spas and Mahogany Homes Custom pool designer and complete remodeling company offering only quality, name-brand products with free in-house design services on all new construction as well as kitchen and bath remodeling.

(623) 414-5494 or (602) 826-2240 Pet Nanny Fetch Pet Care of Cave Creek N. Scottsdale Serving N Phoenix and NE Valley We will provide all your pet-sitting needs just as we would care for our own! We strive to keep your pets as "stress free" as possible while you are away. Professionally trained, bonded, insured, background-checked sitters will gladly give your pets lots of pampering and love.

"We've Got Your Tail Covered!"

(602) 910-3146 www.fetchpetcare.com Pool Service and Repairs Dan's Pool Catering We offer weekly maintenance, equipment repairs, acid wash, tile bead blasting, pool equipment sales and installations, saltwater systems, and much more.

Call Dan Easterly.

(480) 980-6770 www.danspoolcatering.com Printing Master Printing Inc. Locally owned and operated since 1979, we specialize in personalized service, quality printing, competitive prices, and quick turnaround for all your printing needs.

Call us today and inquire about our special for the week.

(623) 742.6595 masterprinting@qwestoffice.net Stylist Shear Attitude Need a new look for the holidays? Over 30 years of experience. Call Debbie Cregger for an appointment today DC Salon Suites #12 (623) 810-0913 8160 W. Union Hills Dr. Glendale Painting Sunwest Painting Custom home and commercial painting company with 14 years experience, specializing in repainting interior and exterior of homes, staining doors, windows, refinishing cabinets, faux finish and detail painting, delivering the quality finished product that builders and customers deserve. Call for a free estimate.

(480) 274-6000 www.sunwestpainting.com To have your Service Listed Here, call: (602) 828-0313 ext.1 or sales@northvalleymagazine.com

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NORTH VALLEY FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

it up to seductive Sedona? February affords a great opportunity to nip to the north for some romance.

Valentine’s bed-and-breakfast getaways are not clichés—they’re classics, and they’ve maintained a distinct level of popularity for good reason.

A prime example of their appeal can be found at Kokopelli Suites in West Sedona.

The excellent service begins before you set foot in Sedona with a prearrival call from a staff member who can help you plan your trip, make recommendations, and make reservations for dining and attractions.

The recent renovations ensure the latest in comforts and amenities, the pool is heated to combat the cooler temperatures, and the outdoor fire pit creates the perfect ambience for canoodling. Especially for Valentine’s Day, Kokopelli offers a package that includes a romantic cathedral suite complete with king bed, in-room Jacuzzi and fireplace, and a Valentine’s basket featuring Kokopelli winery’s Imperial Kir sparkling

Still haven’t made

wine and a number of other sweet samplings. Opt to receive your breakfast in bed (for no additional charge), and go home with one of the locally created artworks featured in your suite, which you can purchase. It’s an affordable romantic weekend that demands satisfyingly little planning on your part.

3119 W. Highway 89A Sedona, AZ 86336 (800) 789-7393 Use promo code VALENTINE when checking availability at kokopellisuites.com, and check out kokopellisuites.com/northvalley for exclusive discount rates and special packages throughout the year.

If candlelight and comfy king-size beds do not constitute your idea of romance, perhaps you’ll appreciate starlight and sleeping bags. Consider embracing the big outdoors with your better half! Sure, it is not yet officially spring, and we can’t always predict the

weather, but the cooler temperatures will keep the snakes in their own beds and necessitate some quality cuddling time. A night spent under Arizona’s breathtaking velvet night sky sprinkled with twinkling stars while snuggled in sleeping bags beside a cozy campfire might suit you and your sweetie better than a B&B. Thanks to Arizona’s mass of state land both here in the desert and up in the mountains, we can enjoy nature up close and outside the bounds of state parks. Waking to saguaros silhouetted against the dawn or a rising sun filtering through pine trees is heavenly, but an overnight trip into our backyard offers more than midnight picnics, s’mores, and stargazing—it’s an opportunity to hike, scout out our furry neighbors, brush up on botany, and—should you arrange it—improve your equestrian skills. Just be certain to check online for weather forecasts and camping regulations before foraying into the forest or driving into the desert. Pack more essentials than you think you’ll need, and always let someone know exactly where you will be—it should be a romantic weekend to remember...for the right reasons.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 NORTH VALLEY

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NVM + 2010

• highlights

Shop in Style—You Can Bank on It!

By Cassaundra Brooks The New Year has delivered some newly opened shops and restaurants at the Shops at Norterra. Stop at the new Chase Bank for some spending money, and then hit new boutiques Bella Amie and Runway Royalty and beauty supply store Avon before munching at the Mellow Mushroom.

Bella Amie Boutique offers a fresh stock of fashion and home décor in line with current trends. It features clothing options by True Religion, American Vintage, La Rok, and more. bellaamie.com Runway Royalty Boutique houses an assortment of high-end clothing and accessories inspired by celebrity looks. The boutique caters to men and women of all ages. (623) 434-0404 For years, Avon operated as a direct marketing company, but this shop is one of the

established company’s first storefronts in the Valley. Avon stocks some of the best skincare and hair-care products on the market, as well as accessories, clothing, and more. youravon.com/dfoster7290 To grab a savory slice and down some ice-cold brew, stop by Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers, which features an original menu filled with pizzas and calzones, deli and grilled hoagies, salads, and munchies.

Happy hour and reverse happy hour specials are ongoing, and if you live close by, you can take advantage of their delivery service. mellowmushroom.com Check out norterrashopping.com for information on all the Norterra shops and restaurants. Look for Buffalo Wild Wings to open its doors this spring.

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Spirit of Knowledge New Direction for Christian Academy

By Cassaundra Brooks A rose by any other name....Cross of Christ School in Anthem may be undergoing a name change for the 2010–11 school year, but it intends to maintain its spiritual and academic character as North Valley Christian Academy (NVCA). In fact, expect NVCA to raise its maturity in the areas of Christian values and academics as it renews its commitment to the greater Anthem community.

The school, launched by Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in 2005, will expand to serve preschool through eighth grade and is implementing a few positive changes in order to successfully meet the challenge of preparing its students to take on the world now and in the future using the intellectual, spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional skills and values they acquire at NVCA: The academy’s mission is to “build leaders who are thoroughly prepared to thrive in all of life, work, and with a passion to serve others,” according to admissions director and curriculum specialist Shannon Lauletta.

The hiring of the new executive director, Nate Kretzmann, is one of those changes.

Kretzmann brings with him over twenty-five years of experience. He has served as school consultant to over one hundred schools in the United States and will now help NVCA grow with the support of what he considers the key principles: leadership, excellence, relationship, service, and integrity.

A nationally recognized curriculum will also present new opportunities for growth. The Core Knowledge curriculum is a grade-by-grade specification in subjects like history, visual arts, science, mathematics, language, music, literature, and geography. This knowledge-based philosophy should boost the school’s current liberal arts curriculum, which will also implement the additional focus on developing a global education program. According to their Web site, the school has a philosophy of helping children to develop mentally and spiritually in preparation for their continued education and life experiences in general, and they

“strive to ensure that academically no child is left behind.”

New name. New people. New curriculum….Same mission.

(623) 551-3454 or crossofchristschool.org Any Mobile, Anytime, for Anyone

By Alana Stroud

Certainly you’ve seen the commercials with

the lady jumping from bubble to bubble on her mobile phone, or the guy who ages before your eyes while calling every person who owns a cell phone. What do these two have in common? They both use Sprint’s new Any Mobile, Anytime plan.

So what makes Any Mobile, Anytime different from other plans? Unlimited calling to any mobile on any network—and not just those who share your particular service provider. Lowering your rate plan while increasing your calling circle, since minutes are free, mobile to mobile. And the freedom to switch carriers whenever your heart desires!

One satisfied customer said, “For the same features I had with my old provider, similar PDA devices, and a discount off my bill through my employer, I went from paying over $300 a month after taxes to about $170 per month after taxes.” If you (or your spouse or children, who always run over on minutes, right?) like to talk, it just may be the perfect plan!

For more information, visit eprowireless.com or call (623) 587-9350.

NVM + 2010

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

â&#x20AC;¢ people & places

• Photography by Tina Greggo of Greggo Photography

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A Valentine’s Day Direct Hit!

Fourth Annual FTWAV New Year’s Eve Celebration Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix

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The exclusive party at the Biltmore included a dinner, live show, silent and live auctions, raffles, and all-night dancing with the Chris Parker Project Band. Last year’s event raised $90,000 in support of For Those Without a Voice. ftwav.org

Real Barbershop for Real Men.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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NVM + 2010

• book review

Paul Newman: A Life

(Harmony Books, NY, NY, 2009, ISBN 978-0-307-35375-7) [ By Ben Miles ]

In one of several books published in 2009

about the late actor Paul Newman, author Shawn Levy writes that Newman’s was a “one-in-a-billion stardom.” After completing Levy’s marvelously crafted 474-page biography, Paul Newman: A Life, one would be hard-pressed to not consider Newman as a one-in-a-billion person. Not only did this Oscar winner master the art of acting as few movie stars ever have but also he was winning auto races into his seventies and generating hundreds of millions of dollars for charity through his ongoing entrepreneurial efforts in Newman’s Own food products.

The most impressive lessons that Levy gleans from the long and rich life of Paul Newman appear to be the actor/humanitarian’s so-called terrierlike determination and “coltish” charm. And though Newman is among the most handsome of matinee idols to ever have graced the silver screen, he himself discounted those God-given attributes, often noting that “having blues eyes [is] no accomplishment.”

After all, Newman was a craftsman who

42

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

saw acting as his job, writes Levy. “He was raised to work at work,” he commented in one chapter. Newman studied his vocation intently and with passion, at both Yale School of Drama and the Actor’s Studio.

Indeed, Newman’s belief was that passion for one thing tends to “bleed over” into one’s other life endeavors.

But Levy’s bio is no mere hagiographic tribute. Both the ups and downs of Newman’s life are examined here. Just as Newman grew from a noteworthy amateur actor into an adroit thespian, he also matured from a somewhat indulgent and uncertain youth into a philanthropic role model and big-screen icon. And, though Newman is admired for his half-century marriage to the gifted actress Joanne Woodward, he divorced his first wife, Jackie, the mother of three of his six children. The reason? He fell in love with Woodward while the two were acting together on the Broadway stage.

Later in his enduring wedlock with Woodward, Newman would stray again, briefly, from nuptial fidelity.

Levy also makes it sorrowfully clear that Newman suffered greatly from the death of his 28 year-old son, Scott, from a drug overdose. This 1978 family tragedy motivated Paul Newman to donate $1.2 million to the University of Southern California for the creation of the Scott Newman Chair in Pharmacy and the Scott Newman Center for Drug Abuse Prevention and Health Communications.

Levy’s story of Newman’s life is calculated in such a way as to capture the arc of Newman’s 83 years on earth while also offering us a taste of his personality and mischievous sense of humor. Newman was born to loving but distant parents in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Newman’s mother, Theresa, was an eastern European immigrant whose first language was not English. Newman, like his successful merchant father, Art Newman Sr., was a surprisingly “quiet and taciturn” individual.

Who’d think that the budding actor would be an introverted personality? Furthermore, while Newman recalled his mother as being “supportive” of his interest in the theater, his

father considered it as “nothing more than star-gazing.” Sadly, the senior Newman didn’t live to experience his son’s extraordinary success on stage and in the movies.

Newman’s strategy for success—whether in acting, auto-racing, or philanthropy— was studied and deliberate. He was an observer and he was intelligent. But what distinguished Newman from most of his contemporaries—besides his singular good looks—was his sheer doggedness. It seems that once Paul Newman put his high-beam focus on a goal, he would accomplish it, regardless of whether the odds were stacked overwhelmingly in failure’s favor. When Newman was 70 years and 8 days old, he won the 24-Hours of Daytona sports car endurance race, by far the oldest person to ever do so in this grueling event.

Newman’s pranks, practical jokes, and comedic gestures have become the stuff of Hollywood lore. Levy recounts a 1993 episode that occurred in a 1993 taping of The David Letterman Show. “Hiding in the audience,” Levy writes, “[Newman] stood up during Letterman’s…monologue and growled… ‘Where the hell are the cats?’ He pulled tickets out of his jacket, announced that he was in the wrong theater, and walked out…while Letterman gazed on…taken by surprise.”

The glee in reading Levy’s page-turner lies not just in his easy explanation of Newman as a dimensional and multitalented human being; there’s also an authenticity about the author’s words that lends an earthy credibility to this portrait of Paul Newman.

Newman uttered his “last recorded words” to his daughters, saying, “It’s been a privilege to be here.” Read Levy’s fine treatise on Paul Newman and you’ll be entertainingly convinced that the privilege was ours.

NVM + 2010

• jewels

A Matter of Taste Gifting the Right Gem [ By Scott Bohall ]

What if every woman wore the same dress?

That, of course, wou ld never happen. While there are some women who like to copy what a friend has or what they see in an ad on TV, they like to view themselves as individuals. Each person has a different taste in design, color, quality, jewelry size, and where they like to shop. There are also many different budgets for each occasion— certainly in a tough economy like this one.

If you watch TV or look at jewelry ads, there is a new thing each year that is pushed on consumers as if everyone wanted it. A few years ago, it was the three-stone jewelry, sold as if it were a new idea. Putting a larger stone in the center with a smaller stone on each side is a design that has existed for a thousand years—now it bears the name of Past, Present, Future. Then came the Circles, the Journey, and the “new” knot design, which has been a jewelry design for at least forty years but is sold as something contemporary.

There is nothing wrong with appreciating the jewelry item of the year. Each design is available from a good number of independent jewelers and chain stores and comes in a variety of qualities. However, if you are a man considering a purchase, it would be wise to ask your companion if she likes that design when you see an ad. If she says yes, proceed to your jeweler. If she says no, a follow-up question as to why will help you find something more suitable to her taste.

A random survey showed that less than 20 percent of women liked this year’s item.

That will be tough for the stores that bought heavily in that area. Look for good deals as stores get rid of them closer to Valentine’s Day. If your lady told you that she did not like it because it was too small, too large, too simple, or too loopy, or she really just wants a

sapphire ring, you have enough information to make her very happy.

Chocolate pearls are a hot item, but not if she doesn’t like the color brown. Pink sapphires are very popular—unless she prefers blue, purple, or yellow. Green quartz is selling well, but she may not like that—the color is not natural.

With any jewelry purchase, make sure that you can return the item if she is not happy with it. Most stores allow seven to thirty days to return an item. If you are spending more than $1,000 for jewelry, it is a good idea to also have the item evaluated by an independent credentialed appraiser. Contact the Arizona Jewelers Association (arizonajewelers.org) for any questions regarding buying, selling, repairing, custom designing, or appraising jewelry. If you know your lady, you’ll know her taste in jewelry. If you don’t know jewelry, know your jeweler!

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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NVM + 2010

• Technology

2010 CES Highlights [ By Jon Kenton ]

It’s that time of year again when the world’s

leading electronics manufacturers get together to show off their latest products. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is held in Las Vegas every January. Approximately 110,000 visitors had the opportunity to meet with 2,500 exhibitors, featuring a whopping 20,000 new products. We obviously don’t have room enough to discuss them all, but here are a few highlights.

With the huge success of Avatar this holiday season, undoubtedly helped by stunning 3-D showings, a new breed of 3-D–enabled TVs was very popular at the show. CNET (cnet.com) sponsors the Best of CES awards and Panasonic’s Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma television took both the Best in Television and the coveted Best of Show categories.

Panasonic’s Full HD 3D technology delivers a full 1080p-resolution image to each eye, offering viewers the highest possible visual experience. Panasonic will ship four 3D models in the spring of 2010 in 50-, 54-, 58-, and 65-inch sizes. All four 3D VIERA televisions feature Panasonic’s VIERA CAST(TM) IPTV functionality, and all 44

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

models are THX certified for the best sound reproduction possible. Many other manufacturers announced 3-D technology, including Sony, JVC, Samsung, and Toshiba.

Not surprisingly, the trend toward connecting everything to the Internet continues. A big buzz at last year’s CES, Yahoo’s Connected TV initiative has moved a step closer to us all having Internet TV by adding several new companies to its cache of developers and adopters. Yahoo has software called the Yahoo Widget Engine that will run programs called (not surprisingly) widgets. Along with existing partners such as Samsung, LG Electronics, and Sony, manufacturers Vizio, Viewsonic, and Hisense have announced new products that will ship this spring. Widget partners include Amazon, USA Today, eBay, Twitter, Facebook, CNBC, NBC, Napster, RadioTime, Dailymotion, and The Weather Channel.

Speaking of the Internet and linking to phone services, there was some very interesting and controversial news relating to a new product by Magic Jack—yes, that’s the very same company you have heard on

TV promoting their Internet phone gadget.

YMax Corp., the company behind Magic Jack, announced a new gadget that will allow you to use your cell phone at home for free calls. Essentially, this new device acts as your own private cell tower in your home. It then connects to your computer and sends your call over the Internet. There has so far been a muted response from the cell phone network operators, who have paid billions for the rights to the radio frequencies, as questions were asked about the legality of the setup. The bottom line is that if this product goes to market, it will allow users on GSM networks such as AT&T or T-Mobile to reduce the minutes they are charged for while making calls from within the home.

Got a digital camera and can never find the cable to get the photos onto your PC, or you can’t remember how to upload to your photo-sharing site? Checkout the wireless memory cards from Eye-Fi. Yes, that is just what it sounds like: an SD memory card with built-in Wi-Fi. At CES, we saw the new Eye-Fi Pro X2 wireless SD card.

Store up to 4,000 photos or three hours of video with 8GB SDHC capacity and then upload photos and videos directly from your camera through your Wi-Fi network. The X2 has unprecedented wireless performance built in as it implements the latest technology standard (802.11n). There is a comprehensive list of features, including the ability to share your JPEG photos and videos on popular Web sites like Flickr, Facebook, Picasa, MobileMe, and YouTube.

If you want to display some of those photos and want to automatically jazz them up a little, you may like Casio’s new Digital Art Frame. With in-built automatic Photoshoplike software, this digital photo frame “transforms ordinary digital photographs into works of fine art,” as several reviews state. Users can create up to eight different authentic styles of art from a single photo at the push of a button: watercolor painting, color-pencil sketch, pastel painting, pointillism, airbrush, and oil painting, Gothic, Fauvist, or otherwise. The frame has a 10inch LCD display, supports SD memory cards, and has WiFi capability.

If you like gadgets and can stand to be in Las Vegas at capacity attendance, then add CES to your calendar next January. If not, look for my highlights here in North Valley Magazine!

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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

45

NVM + 2010

• people & places •

photos by robert cain

Junior League of Phoenix’s First Annual Valley Impact Luncheon Camelback Inn (a JW Marriott Resort & Spa), 5402 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley

^

Nationally renowned medium and author Allison DuBois was the keynote speaker for the event, which raised awareness of and funds for early childhood education. CBS 5 news anchor Sean McLaughlin served as master of ceremonies.

The luncheon featured a silent auction—whose items included a dinner with DuBois—and honored seventy-five women who have made positive contributions to the community over the past seventy-five years. The Junior League of Phoenix is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action of leadership and trained volunteers. jlp.org

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

47

Golf Improve Your Game

Putting

[ By Scott Sackett • Photos by Colleen Miniuk-Sperry ]

The goal in putting is quite simple: Get the ball in the hole. As with all areas of the game, developing a consistent putting stroke affords you the greatest opportunity to accomplish this task. However, putting is not a science but a physical action. Therefore, try to maintain an athletic disposition when putting. There are only two things you should be concerned with when putting: distance and direction. Many things—such as the slope of the green, grain of the grass, time of day, and weather conditions—can influence a putt, but once these factors have been considered, you must simply decide how far you want the ball to travel and along what line. Of the two, distance is more important than direction. Since the cup is almost three times as wide as the ball, there is room for error in direction. Even with long putts, if you are consistent with your distance, your ball will end up somewhere near the hole. Conversely, your direction is irrelevant if you consistently hit putts either too hard or too soft. Amateurs tend to hit their putts too soft.

Goal: Aim it/stroke it/get it in the hole.

Scotty Cameron, golf-putter designer for Titleist



GRIP FACE ON



GRIP SIDE VIEW



SET UP FACE ON

CHARACTERISTICS OF PUTTING

 light grip pressure, around 3 or so on scale of 1–10  square stance (feet parallel left to 12 o’clock)  ball position forward in stance off left eye  50/50 weight equally balanced on both feet  eyes over or slightly inside the ball’s target line  hands hanging directly under shoulders

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

 head very steady  putter in front of body center  allow the putter to swing on its natural arc  hands quiet throughout the stroke  backswing and follow-through approximately same length  hit and hold position

Scott Sackett is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Scott teaches at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale. He is also the director of instruction at The Rim Golf Club in Payson. He splits his time equally between them. To reach Scott, call him at (904) 838-2721 or e-mail him at scottsackett@cox.net.

Visit Scott's Web site at scottsackett.com.

NVM + 2010

• Coming Next Issue •

The Entertainment Issue

• health & fitness

Putting Your Kitchen on a Diet [ By Diana Bocco ]

Let’s face it: Even with the best intentions, it would be difficult to

lose weight if you’re surrounded by temptations every time you open a cupboard or check your fridge. So, get your healthy shopping list ready and stock up on water and lots of veggies, but also make sure you follow these tips to turn your kitchen into a skinny ally.

Stay out of the kitchen

The best way to do a successful kitchen makeover is to change the way you use it. “The kitchen should be for cooking and eating; not talking on the phone, doing work, or arguing,” says Dr. Erik Plasker, author of the book The 100 Year Lifestyle. If you spend less time in the kitchen, you’re less likely to want to look in the fridge/ pantry for something to snack on while you’re doing other things or are bored.

Paint your kitchen blue

Or eat off blue plates. Research suggests that blues and purples may be appetite suppressants because they are the natural colors of molds and poisonous berries. According to registered dietitian Kristin Reisinger, this is because those colors don’t appear naturally in most foods and therefore decrease the appetite and desire to eat more.

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION

Call: (602) 828-0313 E-mail: sales@northvalleymagazine.com 50

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

ORIGINS RENEWED Artisans creating our vine-themed planter use ceramics skills passed through generations, skills that now support their families and communities.

“We know that when eating occurs in places other than at the table and when not solely focused on the eating process, we tend to eat more food.”

Rearrange your fridge

Position all healthy items like fruits and protein in the front of the shelves and place all unhealthy items in the back. “Many of us like to open the refrigerator even when we’re not hungry, and we end up grabbing an unhealthy snack,” says Marta Montenegro, an exercise physiology professor at Florida International University. “If you have the habit of opening the fridge, at least you will grab a piece of fruit instead.”

Clean up your cupboards

Trash all junk food, such as sweets and fried snacks. Anything that you may have a tendency to binge on should be given away, thrown away, or at least hidden,” says Plasker. Stock your shelves with healthy, tasty food that you will want to eat when

hungry but that won’t gnaw at you until you eat it. If you keep items like chocolate chips and other baking items around, be sure to keep them in hard-to-reach places. The more inconvenient it is to get at them, the more chances you will change your mind before reaching for them.

Take the TV out of the kitchen

“We know that when eating occurs in places other than at the table and when not solely focused on the eating process, we tend to eat more food,” says Dr. Craig Primack, one of the founders of the Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. If our kids are asked to eat at the table and finish before going to watch their favorite show, they won’t sit eating an entire bag of chips before the show is over.

Perching Birds Planter, Vietnam, $28

The Village at Arrowhead SW corner 67th Ave & Loop 101 Glendale, AZ 623-566-0385 www.tenthousandvillages.com Bring in this ad SAVE 15% on your next purchase.

Offer valid at participating stores until 3/31/10. Not valid with other discounts, purchase of gift cards or Oriental rugs.

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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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NVM + 2010

• gotta have it

In a Gift Box or Not, Make It From the Heart



FOR HIM Keep him on time with a Luminox EVO Navy SEALs Dive Watch from Cabela’s. It’s a handsome timepiece with highly scratchresistant sapphire glass crystal— perfect for when he’s out working, playing, or hunting—and a stainless steel case that protects it from moisture to a depth of 660 feet—most desirable for when he takes you on that trip to the Caribbean....$549.99 or $649.99 (steel bracelet) at cabelas.com Treat your guy to some highquality pampering at one of V’s Barbershop’s seven Valley locations. Yes, you could get him that much-needed haircut or a straightedge shave, but V’s also carries some top men’s grooming products, framed sports-themed artwork, and more. vbarbershop.com

FOR HER It’s true that (most) women love chocolate, but not just the chocolate that comes in a box.

Or in ice cream cartons, in fancyrestaurant desserts, and coating fresh strawberries. Chocolate facials are one of the many other delightful forms of chocolate, and Par Exsalonce is offering one such tempting treatment for Valentine’s Day. The antioxidant-rich chocolate smoothes and refines skin and is a wonderful stress reliever. At a special price of $120, but must be ordered by February 13. parexsalonceaz.com Women can never have too much jewelry, so consider this 14k white-gold custom ring with two-carat heart-shaped pink sapphire and diamonds for the special woman in your life. $3,000 at Treasures Custom Jewelers.

(623) 486-7875 or treasuresforyou.com

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NORTH VALLEY FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

FOR BOTH Exotic trips are a special way to celebrate love, and India is rich with romantic getaway spots, gorgeous architecture, festive traditions, vibrant dress, intimate dining, and sensual spices. It has more than the enchanting Taj Mahal to entice couples looking for a new and exciting experience. tourindia.com or india-unveiled.com For more personalized, individual gifts or those that are rare or hard to find, consider antiquing! The Brass Armadillo Antique Mall boasts over 600 antique dealers and features aisles filled with collectibles of every sort, from Depression glass to military items to Star Wars memorabilia. It’s the perfect place to shop for either men or women. (602) 942-0030 or brassarmadillo.com/phoenix Perhaps you and your special someone would rather not stress over dinner reservations and would prefer a romantic evening in instead. Hire a personal chef for your Valentine’s Day meal! Private cooking lessons are also available and are an interactive culinary treat you might consider. chefdujour.com, seasoningsbyrex.com, azcustomcuisine.com, hireachef.com

FOR SINGLES The single life is an exciting one! No pity gifts necessary. But if you wish to treat your single friend to something nice for Valentine’s Day, a gift certificate to his or her favorite store is a great option. It’s something they can take advantage of alone or with friends, and it gives them money they must spend on something fun, something they like, and something that makes them feel great about themselves!

Forget your own single status and pay a visit to those who are aware of their single status daily. Nursing homes and similar facilities are good places to consider, but you may know of someone in your community or your neighborhood who has lost his or her life partner and could use a little company on this particular day. Go together to a place or an event that was special to your friend and his or her partner, or create brand new adventures for yourselves. Everyone should feel important on Valentine’s Day, and making someone else have a good feeling is one of the greatest gifts you could give.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 NORTH VALLEY

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NVM + 2010

• auto trends

E Minus 2 Equals C 2010 Mercedes-Benz E350C [ By Greg Rubenstein ]

When you put out fires all day, you grow to appreciate firepower.

For more than 30 years we’ve married real-world expertise with unrivaled personal service. It’s how we’ve grown to be among the top 10 commercial insurers in states where we operate,* protecting billions of dollars in assets: manufacturing, construction, real estate, development, even service businesses. We welcome the opportunity to compete for your business. Call me to review your current coverage and talk about a quote. We’re ready when you are. *Based on premiums written.

Robert H Morrison, Agent rmorriso@amfam.com (602) 923-2220 Bus Evenings and Weekends by appointment.

American Family Mutual Insurance Company and its Subsidiaries American Family Insurance Company Home Office — Madison, WI 53783

amfam.com

© 2008

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Nobody likes riding in the back of a four-seat coupe. The rear seats are, with rare exception, tight, with little legroom; the roofline is imposing; and there’s a general feeling of inescapability should you be unfortunate enough to be involved in a smashup. Ride in the back? No, thank you.

So, it’s intriguing to take in the gorgeous new Mercedes-Benz E350C, a 2010 model that at least one wellheeled onlooker mistook for a $100K–plus ride. “What’s that cost, $110,000? $120,000?” He was noticeably astonished (and possibly humbled and even disappointed) when he was told that the sticker on that particular vehicle was a relatively measly $54,245, and nicely loaded at that price as well.

Intended to replace the CLK coupe, the E-Class coupe replacement is more attractive and practical, at least from a manufacturing perspective. One fewer platform to create equal cost savings, a critical component in today’s difficult automotive climate.

Inside, this coupe is pure Mercedes-Benz, offering the expected high level of fit and finish, exemplary luxury, and enjoyable driving dynamics. It’s extremely solid, giving the feeling of being buttoned down, ready for tripledigit autobahn cruising for hours on end or a bit of relief from the day’s grind while on the way home from work.

The E350C carries over the Mercedes-Benz stalwart 268-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve aluminum V-6 from its four-door cousin (and offered in almost every other U.S. MercedesBenz vehicle except the line-topping premium models). It’s down in power a bit from what V-6 generally offers (even Hyundai gets more than 300 hp out of its V-6), but it’s no slouch and feels more powerful than its rating. It also returns a respectable EPA-rated 17 mpg city and impressive 26 mpg highway.

In a week’s worth of mixed driving, we averaged 25 mpg, a superb return given our constant heavy application of the accelerator.

The E350C’s driving dynamics are typical for a Mercedes-Benz sedan. Controlled, but not overly sporting, the car’s at its best when ticking off lots of freeway miles at a steady clip.

It does fine working through traffic and has no problem getting up to freeway speed from an on-ramp. If pushing through corners is your pleasure, don’t opt for the base model—there are plenty of add-ons to help with handling.

The E-Class coupe is also available with a 32-valve 5.5-liter V-8 that delivers 382 hp and 391 lb ft of torque.

As usual, Mercedes-Benz offers a host of upgrades, including an Appearance Package that provides drilled brake discs with painted calipers, 18-inch AMG wheels, multicontour seats, stainless steel pedals with rubber studs, black gearshift paddles, and a sport suspension.

Our test E350C came with the $3,950 Premium Package that included a 40-GB hard drive GPS navigation system, 6-GB music hard drive, surround-sound system, satellite radio, heated front seats, power rear-window shade, and rear-view backup camera. Included standard is an impressive assortment of safety and technology features, including the multifunction COMMAND control knob as well as an antilock braking system (ABS), stability control, traction control, and front-side, frontpelvic, side-curtain, and driver-knee airbags.

Checking in with a base price of just over $48,000, this sensuously styled Mercedes-Benz offers great value in a luxury coupe.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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NVM + 2010

• know & Tell •

by cassaundra brooks

ASU: The Creosote League and Other AZ Facts

more K ‘n’ T



Phoenix Sky Harbor

Almost 2,500 ASU freshmen are from the top 10 percent of their high school class.

That’s more than Harvard, Yale, or Princeton.

The Gila monster, which calls Arizona its home, is the only poisonous lizard in the United States.

The meteor crater in Northern Arizona is nearly a mile wide and 570 feet deep. The meteor itself weighed roughly 300,000 tons and was traveling at a speed of 28,600 miles per hour.

The explosion created by its impact was equal to 2.5 megatons of TNT, or about 150 times the force of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

International Airport is one of the ten busiest airports in the world, with a $90 million daily economic impact. On a typical day, more than 1,200 aircraft arrive and depart, and more than 100,000 passengers arrive and depart.

It was purchased by the City of Phoenix in July of 1935 for $100,000: the city paid $35,300 in cash and took out a $64,700 mortgage.

In 1900, the top three boys’ names were John, William, and James, while the top three girls’ names were Mary, Helen, and Anna.

Dr. Martin Cooper, a former general manager for the systems division at Motorola, is considered the inventor of the first portable handset and the first person to make a call on a portable cell phone in April 1973. The first call he made was to his rival, Joel Engel, Bell Labs head of research.

Before the days of mattresses, beds were square frames elevated from the ground, with ropes tied across in a sort of weave. It was similar to a hammock in concept. In order to sleep well, the “mattress” couldn’t sag, so the bed had to be “tight.” Hence, “Sleep tight!”

The warmest temperature ever recorded in March in Arizona was 100 degrees.

The coldest was 25 degrees.

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Thanks to Valentine’s

Day, approximately 110 million roses—the majority of them red—will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period.





: Are you going to the Winter Olympics?

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

NVM + 2010

• travel

North to the Future of Luxury One-Price Cruises! [ By Marion Hager ]

This past June, I took a fabulous cruise aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner. It was my third time in Alaska, and I have to say it was by far the best. I purchased my first two Alaska cruises based on low price. This time, I paid more and went for the value.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises operates deluxe ships that are totally inclusive. Once I paid for the cruise in full, I could have left my wallet at home! My cruise fare included everything: airfare, transfers, and accommodations, including meals and entertainment, taxes, shore excursions, onboard gratuities, and all beverages and spirits aboard the ship.

Even the alternative restaurants were complimentary. I booked early and reserved their minimum accommodation—a luxurious suite with a balcony.

The shore excursions Regent included at each port were nothing less than spectacular.

A few of the more extensive ones required a small supplement; however, most were included with the booking. We could select from anything and everything from an active day of hiking and zip-lining to a relaxing city tour. My biggest thrill came during a whale watching excursion. We found a mother humpback and her calf and stayed with them

for almost fifteen minutes, and I got a photo of the calf waving goodbye to us!

Whether you are sailing to the Alaska Last Frontier or the ancient treasures of the Mediterranean, be sure you know what you are receiving for your money. I’ve returned home from other cruises to some very large credit card bills when I thought I got a real deal on my cruise.

To receive complimentary copies of our travel magazines, Insights and Virtuoso Life, please e-mail me at marion@hagers-journeys.com with North Valley Magazine in the subject line.

THE BEST VALUE IN EUROPE 50%

SAVINGS WITH FREE AIR ON SELECT SAILINGS

ONE PRICE COVERS IT ALL! Prices, after savings, starting at $6,150 per person double INCLUDES roundtrip economy air, balcony suite on cruise, transfers, taxes, unlimited shore excursions, onboard gratuities, onboard beverages and spirits, and complimentary ensuite bar set up.

For the best savings on all Regent Europe Itineraries Book by March 31

HAGER’S JOURNEYS

Scottsdale: 480-998-7606  Peoria: 623-974-4690 www.hagersjourneys.com August 19 7-Night Mariner, Cagegory F DeLuxe Suite. Prices vary by sailing date & itinerary, are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. Valid untill 3/31/10.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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NVM + 2010

• gotta have it

[ 1 ]

1 Hardwood floors

For Your Home



21st-Century in Style, Comfort, and Practicality [ 3 ] [ 2 ]

Hardwood floors can be your home’s best feature, and Old World Floors installs high-quality hardwood, bamboo, cork, engineered wood, and laminate flooring products as well as accent stone veneers. Wood floors add value to your home, are easy to maintain, and provide a rich ambience that makes living in your home pleasant day in and day out.

(480) 233-HARD or oldworldfloors.net [ 4 ]

4 water-heating 2 leather armchair

3 door cabinets

This top-grain leather armchair with table rock copper chenille fabric goes for $1,999 at Valerie’s Furniture and Accents. The suede pillow with silver-button conchos and leather detailing is a nice touch at $189.

(480) 483-3327 or valeriesfurniture.com

A 2010 trend in kitchen style is the traditional look (with contemporary a close second), and inset-door– style cabinets reflect that trend well. 101 Cabinets & Interiors supply and install these versatile, timeless cabinets, making your kitchen a sleek and inviting room you’ll enjoy spending time in.

(602) 971-1715 or 101cabinets.com

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NORTH VALLEY FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

We’re transitioning out of winter, but we use hot water year-round, and Eternal Hybrid is an effective water-heating system that delivers hot water faster for multiple applications at once. It’s small, self-cleaning, and maintenance-free. eternalwaterheater.com

5 wine cellars It’s about time you found a way that expresses you and reflects the style of your home when displaying your growing wine collection. EuroDream Kitchens and Design Gallery in Scottsdale will help you build your vision—take what’s in your mind’s eye and fit it in the space you have available in your home. (480) 998-0244 or eurodreamkitchens.com

6 dream kitchens If you like to cook, you may want to consider a Gaggenau appliance.

Gaggenau innovators have secured three hundred patents and produce restaurant-grade appliances designed for your home. Some of their innovations have included the first-ever built-in oven, the first glass ceramic cooktop, and the first pyrolytic self-cleaning system. gaggenau.com/US_en/ home.do

[ 6 ] [ 7 ]

[ 8 ]

8 Organic Mattresses 7 Custom pools & spas Summer is not too far off, and even with this cooler winter weather, the 100-plus-degree temperatures are is not so distant a memory. One of the best ways to enjoy the Arizona weather is in the water—it’s about time you got your own custom-built swimming pool!

Tribal Waters Custom Pools & Spas can build your pool to fit the size, shape, and style of your yard, and include decorative stonework, waterfalls, and streams to your taste and whim. (623) 587-8500 or tribalwaters.us

You spend one-third of your life sleeping, so it makes sense to sleep on a mattress that is not only supportive but also organic! Organic Mattresses, Inc. (OMI) mattresses are made with cruelty-free EcoWool, certified organic cotton, and 100-percent-natural rubber latex— all renewable, biodegradable sources that are grown, processed, and manufactured without toxic chemicals. Both natural rubber and innerspring mattresses are available in a variety of firmness options. organicpedicbyomi.com

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 NORTH VALLEY

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NVM + 2010

Jineane Ford!

Successfully Maintains Her Goal Weight over 3 years & Counting!

• hot list

Hot Stuff for a Cooler Season [ By alana stroud ]

Jineane Ford, former Miss USA and local television personality had her LAP-BAND done by Dr. Simpson - and look at her now!

2 •2010 Olympics

Terry Simpson MD FACS

Call today and let the Lap-Band help you finally take control of your weight and health.

• LapBand is not just for obese patients

• Dr. Simpson has performed

MORE Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery than any other surgeon in AZ • Dr. Simpson has performed MORE Lap Band Surgery than any other surgeon in AZ • Dr. Simpson is Arizona’s only Lap-Band Proctor - He teaches other surgeons how to perform the surgery Experience is what you are looking for, Dr. Simpson is your best choice!

1 •Long Lashes

One of the spring 2010 fashion trends is long, beautiful eyelashes.

Whether you heavily apply the mascara, apply false lashes, try out lash-growing products, or even go the “permanent” route by having individual lashes glued on (these last a couple of weeks), now is the time to accentuate those lashes and bat them to your benefit!

3

1

602.234.SLIM 234slim.com

Issue Date:

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

3 •Spring Break

4 •Bona Fide, Not Bogus

Spring break is not just for college students, who frequent top destinations like Cancun or Acapulco, Mexico; Panama City, Florida; or our own Lake Havasu for the social event of the year. You could take advantage of the break to explore a European city or see the East Coast. Or, if you’d rather keep it close to home, grab the kids and head out to the baseball park or the zoo or go play in the snow up north before the sun melts it away!

Home-interior trends for 2010 are all about what’s “real” and disregarding faux pieces.

Hand-me-downs and generational pieces have become wildly popular. Fill your home with woods, metals, watermarks, and even rust spots—the more imperfections, the better.

With the recent trend toward green products, the more natural your interior, the more you help the environment.

4

Call Today!

HOENIX 62magazine

Our friendly neighbors to the north host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Vancouver, Canada, a favorite of famous faces, will welcome the world’s greatest athletes for the best in cold-weather competition. If you weren’t fortunate enough to score tickets to the Games yourself, you can keep up with the events by watching them on TV. Host viewing parties during your favorite events, complete with Olympicthemed food (see this issue’s Flavor recipe) and fun! vancouver2010.com and vancouverbc.com

0310

Two new offices Opened To Serve You Better!

5

6 5 â&#x20AC;˘Jungle Love at the Phoenix Zoo

Spend this Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day with some unusual friends from the animal kingdom, courtesy of the Phoenix Zoo! On February 13 from 6â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9 p.m., the Phoenix Zoo will host an entertaining evening that will feature Spanishinspired cuisine, an open bar, and flamenco dancing. Some of your favorite critters will even greet you at the door! Tickets are $80 per person. phoenixzoo.org

7 â&#x20AC;˘St. Patrickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Feast

Watch a culinary master demonstrate how to prepare a spectacular St. Paddyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day feast at the Classic Cooking Academy in Scottsdale on March 12 from 7â&#x20AC;&#x201C;9:30 p.m. This interactive event is also a tasty one: the studio audience dines on the finished product! $60 per person. pvc.maricopa.edu/ce/ spring/cooking.html

6 â&#x20AC;˘The Big West Valley Home & Landscape Show

Completely unique, and different from other Maricopa County Home Shows, this edition on March 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7 at the University of Phoenix Stadium will feature vendors and companies from all over the Phoenix area that are specialists in their field.

Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready to help you make your home and yard special, creative places tailored to you and yours. maricopacountyhomeshows.com

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63



Corporate America Trims the Fat—Literally

By Morgan Cooper, with Lea Friese-Haben

With the decline in the economy, employers are forced to take a closer look at their

workforce. One of the things they have to consider is employee health, a growing concern partly based on increasing health-care costs.

So where will they “trim the fat?” Simple—by looking at employees who cost them money. Key elements of a 2006 study provided by Leade Health and titled “The Business Case for Weight/Obesity Management Using Health Coaching Interventions” focused on obesity-related diseases and their effects on the bottom line of businesses. Employee obesity is the number-one factor in productivity loss, and employees under scrutiny are those who are severely overweight.

In the study, it was determined that medical costs for obese employees are 77 percent higher than for those who maintain a healthy weight, and that obesity-related disabilities cost employers up to $8,720 a year per claimant. Additionally, obesity represents an estimated 43 percent of all health care spending for coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis of the knee, and endometrial cancer.

If you’re overweight, and your employer is evaluating job performance, missed days due to illness, and work limitations, then your employment may be at risk. Let’s face it—obesity is a growing epidemic in our society. Out of all the countries in the world, America is ranked number one for its overweight population. 30.6 percent of the population in America aged 15 and above have a BMI greater than 30. By comparison, the lowest is Japan at 3.2 percent.

So what is feeding the obesity epidemic? Dr. Dave Johnson, bariatric surgeon for Arizona Weight Loss Solutions, states, “The way people eat has changed. Many families try to make food dollars stretch by loading up on carbs and not enough protein, fresh vegetables, and fruit. Portions are larger, and fast food is on every corner.

Fresh-food meal preparation has decreased due to busy schedules.

The most concerning ripple effect is the alarming rise of obesity and inactivity in our children.”

Dr. Johnson questions the effectiveness of popular fad diets, which he says fail when people go back to eating “normal food” and gain back the weight they lost and continue to gain. The dieters, he says, don’t learn through these diets how to make wise food choices.

So what can employers do to help build a stronger, leaner workforce? We talked with United Healthcare, one of the largest insurance providers in the United States. They said that an increasing number of companies are providing wellness programs to help educate their employees while offering the employees positive incentives to create a healthy workplace. One such program is called Vital Measures, and the incentive is simple: If you don’t smoke, maintain healthy cholesterol levels, keep your blood pressure down, and maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI) level that is proportional to your height and weight, you receive a credit on your deductible for each criterion met.

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

So where do we go from here? “Exercise, proper diet, nutrition, and behavioral education are the key to a person’s success with weight loss,” Dr. Johnson says. “Employers and employees need weight loss programs to mobilize their workforce and help them succeed in their efforts. Most insurance companies require a five-year weight history before bariatric [weight loss] surgery is approved. Because of this, we have added a medically supervised weight loss program for the people who do not qualify for weight loss surgery but still need to lose twenty to fifty pounds to get into that healthy weight range.”

To tip the scale in the right direction, America seriously needs to get moving, eat less, and eat more nutritious meals in order to trim the fat from its waistline. Don’t be a target—set a goal and get to your target weight instead.

To calculate your BMI, go to azwls.com.

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• event calendar

Feb 1–Mar 28

CELEBRATION OF FINE ART

Meet 100 working artists, visit their studios, find out how and why they do what they do, and participate in their creative processes at this year’s Celebration of Fine Arts. Visitors can watch the artists working in the full spectrum of art media from oils to jewelry and much more. Pieces are also available for purchase. Admission $8; children under 12 free.

(480) 443-7695 or celebrateart.com Feb 5

MARK GRACE CELEBRITY INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Camelback Golf Club The Mark Grace Celebrity Invitational is back for its second year of bringing together more than 200 golf enthusiasts and local as well as national celebrities to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale.

The golf tournament, held at Camelback Golf Club, includes a cocktail reception, silent auction, live auction, and awards dinner.

(480) 344-5681 or bgcs.org

vendors offering everything from chocolate-covered potato chips to chocolate chili pecans will be on hand at Murphy Park. There will also be tours of nearby Cerreta Candy Company. Free admission. (623) 930-2299 or glendaleaz.com/events/ index.cfm Feb 6–Mar 28

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

Attention, fair maidens and brave knights! It is time for the annual medieval fest that features an amusement park, twelve-stage theater, thirty-acre circus, arts and crafts fair, jousting tournament, and food. Bring the kids or have an adult day out! $10–$20 (520) 463-2700 or royalfaires.com/arizona Feb 11–14

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

BY BALLET ARIZONA

True love awakens with a kiss as Ballet Arizona presents its premiere of one of the best-known romantic fairy tales just in time for Valentine’s Day. Enjoy brilliant choreography and an unforgettable score by Tchaikovsky at Symphony Hall. (602) 495-1999 or ticketmaster.com Feb 11–14

GOLD RUSH DAYS

Feb 5–7

GLENDALE CHOCOLATE AFFAIRE

The Glendale Chocolate Affaire is a grand celebration of chocolate and the romance that goes along with it. Thirty chocolate specialty

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Head to Wickenburg and help celebrate the town’s origins as a ranching and gold mining center in the days before there was a Phoenix.

Gold Rush Days draws tens of thousands of visitors with activities like a rodeo, family carnival, melodrama, arts and crafts fair, classic car show, parade, and more.

(928) 684-5479 or wickenburgchamber.com/ goldrush

Feb 19

TAO

Feb 11–21

ARABIAN HORSE SHOW

Watch over 2,000 Arabian and Half-Arabian horses vie for prize money in various classes of competition at Westworld of Scottsdale.

If you are an Arabian horse owner, rider, or just a horse lover, this is a unique event that should not be missed.

There will also be more than 300 vendors and exhibitors on the trade show floor. $10–$15. (480) 515-1500 or scottsdaleshow.com Feb 12

ROMANCE IN THE GARDEN

Begin a weekend of romance at the Desert Botanical Garden with a candlelit concert under starry skies. Enjoy live music, drinks from the cash bar, and the opportunity to purchase wine by the bottle. Optional Italian-inspired dinner and hot coffee will be available. $35, or $70 with dinner. (480) 481-8188 or dbg.org Feb 13–14

ARIZONA ANTIQUE SHOW

Buy your loved one a truly special vintage gift this Valentine’s Day or find that one antique that takes your breath away. Vintage clothing and items from furniture to bowls can be found at this one-stop shopping classic held at the fairgrounds. Free admission, $7 parking.

(602) 717-7337 or azantiqueshow.com

Based on the traditional art of Japanese Taiko drumming paired with innovative choreography that exhibits extraordinary precision, energy, and stamina, TAO is sure to amaze and entertain audiences of all ages. At the Mesa Arts Center. $18–$38 (480) 644-6500 or mesaartscenter.com Feb 27–28

SCOTTISH HIGHLAND GAMES & CELTIC GATHERING

This annual event at the Steele Indian School Park celebrates the heritage and history of Scotland and its people and is sure to be a blast. Experience athletic events; piping, drumming, and pipe-band competitions; dancing exhibitions; tartans, genealogy, and clans; historical reenactment groups; Scottish music; children’s area; food and beverages; education center; and vendor booths. $15; children under 5 free. (602) 431-0095 or arizonascots.com Feb 27–28

MATSURI FESTIVAL

Bring your family and friends to partake in the beauty and excitement of traditional and modern Japanese food, art, crafts, culture, lectures, music, and so much more at Heritage and Science Park.

Free. contact@azmatsuri.org or azmatsuri.org Feb 28

THIRD ANNUAL ‘LEAN ON ME’ 5K WALK

Singleton Moms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides financial, domestic, and emotional support to single mothers with cancer, is hosting this year’s walk to benefit

those mothers going through chemotherapy or radiation.

Come out to Kiwanis Park and show your support for these brave women. Get a huge group together and exercise for a great cause! $25; children under 13 free.

(602) 743-8873 or SingletonMoms.org Mar 6

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

This unforgettable historical exhibition basketball team combines athleticism, theater, and comedy all in one fun-filled evening at the US Airways Center. $17–$130.

(602) 379-7800 or usairwayscenter.com Mar 6–7

FIFTY-SECOND ANNUAL INDIAN FAIR & MARKET

The Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market is now a world-renowned festival that draws nearly 20,000 visitors and more than 700 American Indian artists. Join the thousands of collectors from across the country to purchase one-ofa-kind artwork like jewelry, pottery, baskets, kachina dolls, textiles, fine art, and more. $15; children under 17 free. (602) 252-8848 or heard.org/fair Mar 7–28

SPRING WINE & JAZZ FESTIVAL

Sit under the blue sky at El Pedregal Shopping Plaza, relax on the grass and listen to classic music every Sunday throughout the month of March between the hours of 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Admission is free and, food tickets and commemorative wine glasses are available for purchase.

(480) 488-1072 or elpedregal.com

Mar 13

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PHOENIX

Come see the parade with marching bands, Irish step dancers, bagpipers, floats, and the Arizona Irish Colleen with her Court. After the parade, come to the Irish Cultural Center and check out the Irish Family Faire where you will enjoy live Irish music, research your Irish ancestry, browse or purchase Irish crafts and merchandise, and enjoy a food court featuring Irish grub and beverages. Bring the wee lads and lassies—there’s a children’s area just for them.

(602) 280-9221 or phxirish.org Mar 13–14

ARIZONA ALOHA FESTIVAL

Come enjoy the essence of Hawaii with live entertainment and dance, and browse the Island Marketplace.

Vendors will be offering traditional crafts including fresh flower leis, tapa cloth, island wood products, Hawaiian jewelry, and more. Experience some of the favorite foods of the Polynesian people like kahlua pig, manapua, haupia, Vilo Vilo chicken, or Spam musubi. Children can make island crafts to take away. Free at Tempe Beach Park.

(602) 697-1824 or azalohafest.org Mar 13–14

DEVOURED

This event at the Phoenix Art Museum, presented by Devour Phoenix and Local First Arizona, will feature local artisans, farms, restaurateurs, food producers, and vintners who strive to satiate the growing hunger for “local fresh.” Guests will find an interactive stage featuring a series of seminars such as farm-to-table presentations, chef ’s savored recipes, and talks by national nutrition

experts. $65 one day, $95 two days. (866) 977-6849 or ProTix.com Mar 13–14

PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS

More than forty professional bull riders will compete against one another in the 2010 Built Ford Tough Series tour, coming to Jobing.com Arena. Be there when they take a ride on an unpredictable bull during a show with breathtaking pyrotechnics and energizing rock music. $10–$100. (623) 772-3200 or jobingarena.com Mar 20–21

GLENDALE FOLK & HERITAGE FESTIVAL

More than 150 performers ranging from folk and bluegrass music to cowboy poetry and storytelling will be on site. Attend free workshops like “Guitar Finger Style” and “Songwriter’s Circle.”

There will also be family entertainment, historic site tours, blacksmith demonstrations, and a children’s stage and activity area. Free, at Sahuaro Ranch Park.

(623) 930-4200 or glendaleaz.com/Parksand Recreation Mar 24

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Find out what you need to know about Social Security at Paradise Valley Community College. This free course will provide an overview of all the programs dealing with retirement, survivors, disability, Medicare, and supplemental security income benefits. Handouts will be provided. Register early, as this class fills quickly!

(602) 787-6800 or pvc.maricopa.edu/ce

Mar 26–28

PHOENIX SISTER CITIES WORLDFEST 2010

The annual Phoenix Sister Cities WorldFEST 2010, held in Heritage Square Park, is a free cultural celebration of ten sister cities from around the world.

Visitors will drink, taste, hear, and experience multiple cultures in this exciting three-day festival that includes a bounty of beers from the world over, entertainment and music, international cooking demonstrations, and a kids’ world! (602) 534-2200 or phoenixsistercities.org Mar 27

CAMP JAMBOREE

Take the kids to this free event, which will feature various camp representatives for the upcoming summer season. Activities include a dunk tank, petting zoo, Mad Science show, face painting, arts and crafts, and much, much more! At Paradise Plaza (4848 E. Cactus Rd.). azparenting.com/events.php March 27–28

ARIZONA GAME AND FISH EXPO

This is a great event at which to experience and learn more about the amazing outdoor recreational opportunities in Arizona. Archery, catchand-release tank, wildlife viewing, shooting sports, off-highway vehicle and boating exhibits, and hiking are just a few exhibits and activities available at this free event, held at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Food court on site. (602) 942-3000 or azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/showcase.shtml

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

69

NVM + 2010

• relationships

Ask the Dating Coach [ By Lea Friese-Haben ]

Dear NV readers— I’ve

received an unbelievable quantity of mail in reaction to Tiger Woods’s indiscretions. The following are two such letters.

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Dear Lea,

I am really upset about the whole Tiger Woods story. I too have had a philandering husband. [Woods’s] wife, Elin, is beautiful and a great mother who has shied away from the press—choosing to make a somewhat normal life for her family. They are still pretty much newlyweds—I don’t get it...My husband and I were only married a year when I found out about the first of his thirteen affairs. I guess I thought Tiger was different.

My son has looked up to him as a role model.

If Elin Woods can’t keep her husband faithful, how can the rest of us ever hope to have a faithful, loving relationship?

Unlucky in Love

Dear Unlucky,

You are not alone. Many people were upset with the news of Tiger’s affair. (That is the problem with putting people on pedestals— the fall is far). I would like to point out, however, that it is a private matter, and unfortunately, because of Tiger’s celebrity status, there are probably some inaccuracies. I had to reread your letter—I am shocked that you stayed married to a man who has had thirteen affairs, if indeed you did. I don’t really have enough information to go on regarding your

situation, so my response will be somewhat generalized. There seem to be a few common trends when it comes to infidelity. Some men do have sex addictions, but I have found that most married men are not looking for a one-night stand—they are looking for a lost connection. It is rare for this to happen in the short span of a year (it’s generally five to seven), but my male clients have revealed to me over and over again that they feel neglected and saddened by their wives’ loss of interest in them. The majority of the men I have consulted feel that their wives are preoccupied with the house and the kids and that they have become an afterthought. Once the relationship becomes a roommate situation, it becomes more difficult to resolve. I also hear that men are bored with the same dull routine.

They like their wives to change things up— sexy lingerie once in a while, for instance. (A sexy text or a seductive voicemail can do a lot to keep the home fires burning hot). One of the most important things to remember is that men need to feel appreciated and wanted. (As human beings, we all want to feel special to someone. Men do feel deeply—they just communicate it differently.) Although infidelity is not at all justified, most of the time it comes as a result of both parties and not just the one who had the affair.

Lea

Hold That Tiger, Buddy!

Dear Lea,

I read your columns and find your advice

pretty much dead on most of the time. I am writing to you about the Tiger Woods story.

I am about Tigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age and have been married about five years and am considering having an affair. My wife is completely preoccupied with our 3-year-old. She wears T-shirts and boxers to bed and has lost all interest in me sexually. I consider myself lucky if we have sex once a month. I am attractive and work out and keep myself in shapeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;women in my office find me attractive, and a couple have asked me out. I love my wife, but I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stand the fact that she is letting herself and our relationship go. She got me into reading your columns, so I am hoping you choose to print my letter. I just feel so rejected by her.

P.S. I am an avid golfer. I have hidden my golf clubs after the violence Tiger experienced. LOL. Avid Golfer

Dear Avid Golfer,

I am glad that you decided to write about rather than act on your current options. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know whether you have talked to your wife about your concerns, but you should if you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. I have had a small child at home and know that sometimes itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tough to feel sexy when you are dealing with dirty diapers and sleep deprivation. It is really important during these times, however, to stay connected and communicate. You may want to take a few things upon yourself, such as buying her some pretty clothes as well as lingerie and treat her to a day at the spa. Let her know how beautiful she is and that you want to make her feel special. A lot of overwhelmed moms are tired and feel less than sexy. If you help her in subtle ways to feel good about herself, you will reap the benefits. I really think you will see big dividends with just a few small gestures. (Ever notice how we are drawn to people who make us feel good about ourselves?) Make her feel special and important and communicate with herâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;then you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to hide the golf clubs. Keep me posted!

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Final Thought

Staying connected is vital and is the responsibility of both parties. It really does take two to make a relationship work, to ensure that the â&#x20AC;&#x153;worseâ&#x20AC;? portion of â&#x20AC;&#x153;for better or for worseâ&#x20AC;? is but a fleeting moment in time. One party should not be expected to shoulder all the responsibility.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

71

NVM + 2010

• ask a vet

Where, Oh, Where Has My Little Dog Gone?

How Not to Sing the Lost Pet Blues [ By Dr. Julie Bartz ]

Having your dog go missing can be heart-

breaking.

Recently, I was pulling up to my driveway when I saw one of my dogs trotting across it! I thought, hmmm, that’s odd. I wonder how he got out. As I neared the house, I saw my front door standing wide open and the screen door pushed out!

Immediately I took inventory of my pets—I have four dogs and three cats, so this can take a while—and realized that two cats and two dogs were missing. I was able to retrieve the cats quickly, as they were hiding under my front porch. (Whew! Around here, cats don’t make it long in the wild.)

But my 12-year-old yellow lab, Gunther, and my 4-year-old pit mix, Nina, were long

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

gone. Panic began to set in, especially when I realized that Gunther was not wearing a collar and tag, and Nina’s tag contact phone number was outdated! To make matters worse, Nina was not registered with Maricopa County. At least, I thought, they have their microchips, and hopefully someone will scan them and trace them back to me.

I imaged the worst—coyotes, a hunter, someone who doesn’t like dogs—got hold of my fur kids.

At this point, I realized I needed some help, and I put a plan into action. First, I listed the dogs on Maricopa County’s pets911.com. This Web site is dedicated to reuniting lost pets with their owners. Photos and descriptions of both pets that are lost

and pets that someone has found may be posted here.

Second, I enlisted the help of some friends to canvass the neighborhood both on foot and by car. (Remember to bring a collar and leash with you when you set off in search of your lost pets, and always be in cell phone contact with your fellow searchers.)

I made a LOST DOG flyer with both dogs’ photos on them, which I placed at friendly gas stations, grocery stores, and convenience stores as well as near mailboxes.

I called the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control and was told they don’t give lost pet information over the phone.

I was instructed to visit the shelter the following day. On my way to the shelter, my cell phone rang and one of their staff informed me that she had my dogs. What a relief! They had traced them to me via their microchips.

Upon arriving at the shelter, I was informed that Gunther had a “get out of jail free card”, as he was properly registered with the county. Nina, on the other hand, would cost me some money as a penalty for not having her licensing current. Uh-oh. And if she wasn’t spayed, she would need to be prior to her release. I provided proof that she had been altered but was charged for her capture, overnight boarding, DHPP, and rabies vaccinations as well as her licensing. It was well worth it, but boy, did I learn some valuable lessons. I’ll pass them on to you: Have all of your dogs and cats microchipped and keep your contact info current.

This can be done at your veterinarian’s office and is a similar procedure to vaccinating.

Get your pets collars and tags with your current contact information on them. (If I had done this, the dogs would not have been sent to county in the first place.)

License your dog with Maricopa County or wherever you live.

The law in Arizona requires that all dogs over the age of 3 months have a license and rabies vaccination. For more detailed information on fees and how to license your pet, visit maricopa.gov/pets/license. The state of Arizona does not require cats to be licensed, but it is a very good idea to microchip your cat and get him or her an ID tag.

Thankfully, my dogs were returned to me quickly. I hope you pet owners will learn from my experience!

If you were diagnosed with a major health issue, wouldn't you seek a second opinion?

Has your investment portfolio declined in the past 12 months?

Have you heard from your financial advisor lately?

I pride myself on customer service, experience, communication and always doing the right thing.

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FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

73

NVM + 2010

• adopt-A-Pet

Good Friends Who Need Great Homes [ Photos by Michelle Brodsky ]

as she loves to play with them. She’s our puppy nanny! Jasmine loves to play and chase toys that are thrown for her. She is a star student in our K-9 Head Start program, which means she’s very smart and wants to please people. Jasmine is good with children elementary age and up, might be good with cats, and is good with dogs. Her fee is $125. is a 41-pound 3-year-old pit bu l l terrier mix. She loves p e ople , e s p e c ia l ly when they take her for walks. She is a very good girl and walks really well on a leash. She enjoys car rides and people watching at Starbucks. She is excelling in her obedience training. She is good with junior high kids and older, not good with cats, and may be good with the right dog. Jasmine’s adoption fee is $100.

Maddie

Little Abe is a bouncy guy! This 2-year-old 12-pound miniature pinscher mix is good w it h k ids elementary age and older and might be good with other dogs and cats. Abe’s adoption fee is $150.

Tribble is a male domestic short hair just under a year old. He w il l show you how much he loves to be petted by serenading you with his wonderful purr. Tribble’s adoption fee is $50.

Rosario is a very affectionate 2-year-old domestic short hair. She loves chin scratches and to be brushed. While she does not enjoy being in a roomful of cats, she wouldn’t mind sharing a new home with just one. Rosario’s adoption fee is $50.

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

Six-year-old Balinese Zeus is king of the cats.

He enjoys being petted as well as being a bird watcher and likes his alone time to gaze upon his subjects. He loves being the king and intends to reign forever. His adoption fee is $50.

Jasmine is a year-old 59-p ou nd pit bu l l terrier mix. She is a wonderful girl who is a friend to everyone.

She has a gentle soul.

In fact, we will often put Jasmine in the yard with the puppies,

 These pets may already be adopted. Please visit aawl.org for a current listing of pets available for adoption at the Arizona Animal Welfare League.

All dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered, are updated on their shots, and will go home with a microchip inserted. The Arizona Animal Welfare League is open from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Tuesday–Friday, and 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. AAWL is located at 30 North 40th Place in Phoenix. For more information, call (602) 273-6852.

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NVM + 2010

• flavor Flavor Hotspots

Foreign Flavors Found Right Here in the Valley

A Taste of Canada Cedar Planked Salmon and Wild Rice Take the Gold Medal for Flavor

Tea Light Café 7000 E. Mayo Blvd.

Phoenix, AZ 85054 (480) 538-1600

[ B y A l i s o n M a l o n e Ea t h o r n e ]

This winter, Vancouver hosts the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. When hosting a gold-medal–worthy soirée, serve this distinctly Canadian meal of cedar-planked salmon with maple glaze and wild rice and barley pilaf. You just might feel a little closer to the action!

The recipe for this moist, fragrant salmon was inspired by BC’s First Nations people, who were the first to boil the sap of maple trees into earthy, flavorful maple syrup. They also originated the method of cooking on cedar planks, which imparts food with a mild, smoky flavor. Given wild rice’s affinity for fish, this pilaf is a beautiful pairing. A member of the grass family and Canada’s only native cereal, nutty-flavored wild rice is grown in Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. In addition to being a good source of protein and rich in vitamins and minerals, wild rice is easy to digest and low in fat, making it the perfect choice should any health-conscious athletes show up for dinner.

Cedar-Planked Salmon with Maple Glaze ¾ cup pure maple syrup 2 tbsp finely grated ginger root 4 tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp finely chopped garlic Untreated Western red cedar plank (approximately 17 by 10 inches) soaked in water for 30 minutes 3-pound center-cut salmon fillet with skin left on ½ cup thinly sliced scallions In a small saucepan, simmer maple syrup, ginger, 3 tbsp lemon juice, soy sauce, and garlic, along with salt and pepper to taste.

Reduce to about 1 cup, approximately 30 minutes. Reserve half the glaze to use as a sauce and let cool. Add remaining tbsp of lemon juice to saucepan. Preheat oven

76

or outdoor grill to 350°F. Lightly oil cedar plank and heat it in the middle of the oven or grill for 15 minutes. Arrange scallions on plank, forming a bed for the fish.

Place salmon skin side down on scallions and brush with reserved glaze. Season salmon with salt and pepper and roast in the middle of the oven or grill until just cooked through, about 30 minutes. Cut salmon crosswise into 6 pieces and serve with scallion greens and a drizzle of the warmed sauce. Serves 6.

Wild Rice and Barley Pilaf 1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 2 tsp fresh chopped thyme

North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

recipe info



½ cup barley ½ cup wild rice, rinsed 4 cups vegetable stock ½ tsp lemon zest ½ cup chopped fresh parsley

In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook onions, garlic, and thyme in oil until softened, about 5 minutes. Add barley and wild rice; stir to coat. Add stock, along with salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil, then stir, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until almost all of the liquid has been absorbed and the grains are tender, about 60 minutes.

Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and lemon zest. Serve immediately.

Serves 6.

It’s Vietnamese “fast” food at its finest— light, healthy, tasty meals that average well under $20 each. The convenient location beside the Harkins Cine-Capri at Scottsdale Road and the 101 makes it a nice spot for a pre-movie lunch or an after-movie snack. The pleasant interior is simple and clean, the staff friendly, and the menu a good mix of classic and wholesome Vietnamese cuisine.

My Big Fat Greek Restaurant 10625 N. Tatum Blvd., #150 Phoenix, AZ 85028 (480) 607-1212 mybigfatgreekrestaurant.net With nine locations throughout the Valley, including the one listed above and one in Old Town Scottsdale, you have no excuse not to try out this wonderful Greek cuisine.

Catering and banquet opportunities aside, the dining experience is always a pleasant one, with tantalizing food, a festive atmosphere, and good times to be had by all who aspire to be just a little bit Greek for a few hours.

Marcella’s Italian Kitchen 7014 E. Camelback Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85251 (480) 947-2105 marcellasitaliankitchen.com New to Scottsdale Fashion Square is a restaurant bursting with Italian charm and flavor. A varied and original menu offers affordable yet decidedly savory meals.

From sweet appetizers to heavy pastas to rich desserts, the offerings are distinctly and oh-so-pleasantly Italian.

dining guide

If you would like to have your restaurant listed please call 602-828-0313

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Come celebrate with us at our location in Frontier Town at the North Valley’s only 1880s Old West Town. Kids Under 12 Eat FREE with this ad (one child per adult).

We proudly serve 19 beers on tap, and delicous food! Try our chicken tortilla salad, or the best half lb burger around. Come visit us for Happy Hour M-F from 2-6 pm for half price wings and potato skins, along with boneless wings. We have several specials and events throughout the week; Monday is buy-one-burger-get-one free night, Tuesday is buy-a-dozen-wings-get-a-dozen free night, Friday is all-you-caneat-fish-fry night and Saturday night is ladies night with $3 martinis and margaritas.

Also note our Reverse Happy Hour is from 10 pm-close Sun-Thur, Sunday NFL Ticket, Thursday karaoke night, and live music on Wed, Fri and Sat evenings!

Keva Juice 20020 N. 59th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85308 / (623) 537-4091 2501 W. Happy Valley Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85027 / (623) 580-0062 kevajuice.com Fresh-squeezed juices. Ripened fruit. Nonfat yogurt and sherbet. Fat-free milk.

Essential vitamins and minerals. These quality ingredients comprise each and every tasty smoothie from Keva Juice. Oranges and carrots are squeezed on-site, and nonfat ingredients boost the flavor and texture without boosting the caloric intake as well. Down a shot of fresh-squeezed wheatgrass or pucker up for a Lemonberry Zinger, made with lemonade, lime sherbet, pineapple sherbet, and strawberries. One energizer comes free with every smoothie, so drink in some energy, protein, and vitamins with the frozen goodness. For the perfect start to your day or a satisfying midday treat, stop by any of our Valley locations!

Ketzal Mexican Grill 2815 W Carefree Hwy, Suite 101 • Phoenix, AZ 85085 (623) 879-1175 • www.ketzalmexicangrill.com Inspired by the traditions and great flavors of northern Mexico, Ketzal Mexican Grill is home to innovative, fresh, and delectable fare. In Ketzal Mexican Grill’s authentic menu, you will find mouthwatering carne asada, chicken, fish, and shrimp dishes. Our authentic tortillas are handcrafted using traditional flour imported from northern Mexico. We offer an extensive bar menu, including many imported and domestic beers, wines, tequilas, and amazing margaritas!

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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NVM + 2010

• entertainment •

by cassaundra brooks

+ Movies



February

March

Valentine’s Day Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway (and a whole host of A-listers!)

Yellow Handkerchief William Hurt, Maria Bello, Eddie Redmayne [19] Shutter Island Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley [26] A Couple of Cops Bruce Willis, William Scott, Adam Brody Takers Idris Elba, Matt Dillon, Paul Walker

Our Family Wedding Forest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Regina King Remember Me Robert Pattinson, Pierce Brosnan, Emilie de Raven [16] The Back-Up Plan Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin, Michaela Watkins [19] The Bounty Hunter Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Jason Sudeikis [26] Clash of the Titans Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Liam Neeson

[12] The Wolfman Anthony Hopkins, Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt

[5] Alice in Wonderland Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Crispin Glover [12] Green Zone Matt Damon, Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear

+ Television TV FUN FACTS Foreigners invade U.S. televisionThere are a number of foreigners with delightful speech intonations— particularly the British, Canadians, and Australians—who lend their talents to adopting flawless American accents for our U.S. shows, and we blindly accept these actors as our own. One of the best examples is Limey character-actor Hugh Laurie, who so brilliantly assumes all of the challenging aspects of his character Dr. Gregory House that we forget he sheds his lovely British accent in favor of a Yankee one. His fellow countrymen (and women) Chuck Bass (Gossip Girl), Johnny Lee Miller (Eli Stone), Gabrielle Anwar (Burn Notice), Lena Headly (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Minnie Driver (The Riches) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Without a Trace) are some of the other Brits masquerading as Americans on the silver screen.

Canadians Joshua Jackson (Fringe), Tamara Taylor (Bones), Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic (Castle), Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), Erica Durance (Smallville), Evangeline Lilly (Lost), Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), Kristen Kreuk (Smallville), and Sarah Chalke

(Scrubs) are among the invaders from the North who likely find it a little easier to settle into their American roles. But Aussies like John Noble and Anna Torv (Fringe), Simon Baker (The Mentalist), Yvonne Strahovski (Chuck), Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters), Rose Byrne (Damages), and Anthony LaPaglia and Poppy Montgomery (Without a Trace) ditch heavier accents in order to fool us properly.

What’s with TV ratings? Television is a business, and commentators and other television pundits are ever talking about ratings. What about ratings? Advertising drives media, TV included, so the commercials or subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) product placements are what keep a show on the air. If no one watches the show, no one sees the commercials, which means that fewer people buy the advertised products—and that means those companies have fewer funds for advertising...it’s a cycle. Ratings help networks gauge the size and demographics of their audience. Nielsen Media Research created the most prominent audience measurement systems that not only measure the percentage of all television households tuning in to a particular program (ratings points)

and the percentage of televisions actually in use that are tuned into a particular program (share), but also the average age, gender, race, economic class, and location of those tuning in. Hours after a program concludes its latest time-zone run, online articles spring up depicting early Nielsen ratings numbers. You may have seen them. For example, in the number construction 7.3/11, the numerals represent ratings points/share. The numeral before the slash indicates that 7.3 percent of the nearly 115 million television households in this country tuned in to the show in question (let’s say it’s Lost). The latter number states that 11 percent of the televisions in use during Lost’s time slot were tuned in to Lost. Make sense? Now, these percentages correspond to a

+ Music

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NORTH VALLEY FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

February

March

Lifehouse – Smoke & Mirrors [9] Massive Attack – Heligoland Monica – Still Standing [23] Michelle Branch – Everything Comes and Goes

Natalie Merchant – Leave Your Sleep Usher – Raymond v. Raymond [9] Alberta Cross – Broken Side of Time [23] She & Him – Volume Two

[2] Toni Braxton – Pulse

[2] Jamie Foxx – Body

large number of television sets. But Nielsen also records the number of people per television. How? Select households, which were assessed and chosen to represent the country at large, have TV set meters and people meters. Individuals punch in pertinent information with each program they watch—the number of people watching and their ages and genders, for example. The most coveted audience is the 18–49 age range, so shows that attract that group generally last longer. Others, despite large audiences, may get the ax if they fail to appeal to that group.

There are flaws in the system, of course, and Nielsen is beginning to measure DVR and TiVo numbers and the like. With the increase in online viewing, additional changes will likely have to be made.

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Scott Sackett, GOLF instructor Scott Sackett, one of GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teachers, conducts private lessons at McCormick Ranch Golf Club. Scott is also the director of instruction at the Rim Golf Club in Payson, Ariz. All of Scott’s clients can take instruction at The Rim Golf Club along with playing the prestigious golf course for just a guest fee.

To contact Scott, you can e-mail him at Scottsackett@cox.net or visit his website at www.scottsackett.com

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 NORTH VALLEY

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NVM + 2010

• people & places •

photos by dave eskridge

Sweat’s Annual Holiday Client Party, Sweat, 42105 N. 41st Dr. Ste. D-120, Anthem

^

Sweat’s annual affair celebrates a year of wonderful results for clients and growth for the gym. It’s an appreciation party for clients, to demonstrate pride in the Sweat family. sweatchallenge.com

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North Valley FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010

NVM + 2010

• horoscopes •

by laura henry

Feb 7 Ashton Kutcher (1978) AQUARIUS

Mar 10 Carrie Underwood (1983) pisces

Feb 27 Josh Groban (1981) PISCES

Mar 26 Keira Knightley (1985) aries

Aries

(Mar 21–Apr 19)

In March, you’re quite the force to deal with! You’re raring to go, shiny and new, wanting to take the world on.

Taurus

(Apr 20–May 20)

This March, you prefer your own company because you’re feeling a little burned out from the activity of February.

You’re searching for a Higher Power or an Inner Guide to help you lead your life.

Gemini

(May 21–Jun 21)

Friends’ hopes and wishes is your theme for March. Very social and possibly humanitarian ideals capture your interest and attention.

Cancer

(Jun 22–July 22)

Work/career/status all look incredibly good in March.

Money could be coming in, or you may get recognized for an achievement. If you want a raise, this is a good time to

Feb 23 Emily Blunt (1983) PISCES

Mar 27 Pauley Perrette (1969) aries

ask. If you are looking for a new job, this is a great time to get yourself out there; the planets are really behind you on this.

Leo

(July 23–Aug 22)

Travel, philosophy, teaching, really stretching your mind past what you know are all in the cards for you in March.

Virgo

(Aug 23–Sept 22)

Feb 3 Isla Fisher (1976) AQUARIUS

Mar 3 Jessica Biel (1982) pisces

Mar 7 Rachel Weisz (1971) PISCES

Mar 7 TJ Thyne (1975) PISCES

There’ll be no skating on the surface of love for you.

Scorpio

(Oct 23–Nov 22)

In March, you’re working hard, focusing, taking care of your health, and helping others. You’re able to get rid of all the clutter in your home, and not having all that “stuff” hanging around frees your mind.

Sagittarius

You’re dealing with shared resources, inheritances, sex, death, and rebirth in March.

The occult could be appealing, or more money may come into your life.

(Nov 23–Dec 21)

Libra

(Dec 22–Jan 20)

(Sept 23–Oct 22)

March has a strong emphasis on relationships (Libra’s specialty). Legal affairs are settled in your favor. The opposite sex finds you appealing, so there’s no shortage of suitors. Like Virgo, you’re going deep—and that means deep into love affairs as well.

March is a light, free, creative, and romantic month. Make the best of it—go out with friends and just have fun.

Aquarius

(Jan 21–Feb 18)

March brings better communication with siblings and the people around you. If there’s something you need to say, now is the time to say it.

Pisces

(Feb 19–Mar 20)

March turns your attention to money and personal values.

Really pay attention to what you spend your money on, and it will give you an idea of what is important to you. It can be very revealing.

Laura is available for personal, taped consultations by phone.

Capricorn

March keeps you close to home. Family issues become important. You could decide to purchase real estate or renovate. This could also mean that there are family issues that need to be dealt with. This is a good time to do it, as the planet of love is in the sector ruling the family.

FEBRUARY | MARCH 2010 North Valley

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- Josh and Laura Rogers, Owners of Sweat

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